In a major push to rein in errant drivers and strengthen road safety, the Central government has tightened the Motor Vehicles Rules, warning that motorists committing five or more traffic violations within a year may face suspension of their driving licences.
According to a recent notification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules empower licensing
s aimed at curbing repeat traffic violations that often result in serious road accidents. The amended framework strengthens enforcement under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, particularly for offences detected through electronic surveillance and digital enforcement systems.
authorities to initiate action against habitual offenders. The new provisions will apply to violations committed from January 1, 2026 onwards, and offences from previous years will not be taken into account.
Under the revised rules, every e-challan issued to a driver will attain legal finality unless acted upon within 45 days. During this period, the violator must either pay the prescribed fine or challenge the challan before the competent authority. If no response is received within the stipulated time, the challan will be deemed accepted.
In cases where a challan is challenged, the authority concerned will examine the driver’s explanation before taking a final decision. If the explanation is rejected, the offence will be confirmed and added to the driver’s annual violation count, potentially triggering licence-related action.
Officials clarified that the power to suspend a driving licence will rest with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) or District Transport Office (DTO). However, no punitive action can be taken without following due process. The licence holder must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard, and the duration of suspension will be decided based on the severity, frequency, and nature of offences.
At present, 24 traffic offences have been notified under the rules. Any combination of five such violations within a year can invite suspension proceedings. These include overspeeding, jumping traffic signals, driving without a helmet or seat belt, illegal parking, overloading, vehicle theft, and violent or unruly behaviour with co-passengers.
With digital enforcement and real-time tracking of violations becoming more robust nationwide, transport authorities believe the stricter provisions will act as a strong deterrent against habitual offenders and promote safer driving practices across the country.
