Tough MV Act will bring down traffic violation

Tough MV Act will bring down traffic violation
This has reference to ‘Jail term, higher fines for traffic law offenders’ (March 2). It’s a commendable move by the government to amend the Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) and bring in stringent provisions of tough penalties for traffic violators. Due to lack of tough laws the road accident trajectory in the country has been shooting up and showing no signs of descent. The existing measures have not worked as an effective deterrent against erring drivers. The proposed amendments of steep enhancement of fine and quantum of punishment for traffic violators, which covers  drunken driving, speeding, not wearing helmet and seat belts and use of mobile phones while driving, should result in better traffic management in the country. However, these amendments may not act as deterrent for those who do not have any trouble paying such fines and getting bail. The government should make the procedure for issuing a driving license stringent and enhance compensation from Rs1 lakh to Ra2 lakh in hit and run cases. The media and social organisations also need to create awareness in the society regarding safe driving.
— Ramesh G jethwani, Bangalore

II
The decision to amend the Act augers well towards disciplined driving in the country. The bill introduces fine for using mobile phones while driving. The fine will multiply in case the offender repeats the violation. But such fines incidentally are ‘chicken feed’ for most offenders these days. Punching of the licenses, cancelling them for serious offences and even simple imprisonment for a month should also be introduced to bring traffic violators under control. At the same time, the government should make the process of issuing driving licenses stringent. However, all this would be worthless if the traffic police let the offender go in lieu of a bribe. Who will keep an eye on the police? Why should not there be some stringent provisions in the same Act against those policemen who are guilty of accepting bribes? Finally, the huge amounts accumulated in the form of fine should be used for purchase of ambulances to be positioned in accident-prone areas and for the warning system for pedestrians at important road crossings.
— Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee

III
It is quite disturbing that about 1,20,000 people die while almost 1.27 million sustain injuries in road accidents in India every year. Just making the law stringent does not serve the purpose unless it is strictly enforced and compliance is ensured. For that, the system needs to be made more technology-based and not be dependent on traffic policemen who cannot be everywhere all the time. In developed countries, cameras are placed across the roads. Those who drive recklessly not only put their own lives at risk but also that of others. Instances of people being crushed to death while driving during late hours of the night by drunken youngsters of affluent families are common in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. This must be a made a non-bailable offence and the guilty must be awarded maximum jail-term.
— MC Joshi, Lucknow

Kripa’s plaques
This has reference to the report ‘Remove plaques with tainted Kripa’s name, say church members’ (March 2). People at Kalina are demanding that the plaques put up by tainted politician Kripashankar Singh in the church there be removed. Politicians bend over backwards to put up permanent structures in religious places with an eye on the vote bank. They consider this a one-time ‘investment’ yielding high dividends. A plaque in a prominent place serves as a permanent advertisement for the ‘good work’ done by the politician. Unfortunately, the majority of them, like Singh, are tainted. Ideally, religious bodies should not accept aid from a politician’s fund. Even if they do, it must be without any strings attached. Temporary banners are fine, but permanent plaques should be a strict no-no. It must be clearly understood that the funds do not belong to them, they belong to the tax payers and are given to
them to use/spend for the benefit of the people.
— Robert Castellino

II
I was shocked when I saw the long list of flats, bungalows, complexes and the wealth owned by the ex-Congress chief of Mumbai, Kripashankar Singh and his family. I wonder how he amassed such wealth and properties worth crores. Has the high command of his party not taken account of his wealth and luxury? If the city chief of a political party can amass such wealth, I shudder to think how the other powerful MPs and ministers must be looting the country. At this rate, Indian politicians will soon feature frequently in the Fortune’s list of richest politicians of the world.
— S Krishna Kumar

Sachin should retire
The decision to retain Sachin Tendulkar for the Asia Cup and rest Sehwag has not gone down well with the masses. This speaks badly of the selectors. I feel it is high time Sachin gracefully retires rather than having the masses boo him out. If this happens, then he will lose out on his past laurels too. We now need youngsters like Virat Kohli and others.
— D Dasilva

Charge sheeting Lalu
Framing of charges by the CBI in infamous fodder scam against Lalu Yadav and Jagannath Mishra after 17 long years highlights the mockery of the system where the influential accused could easily manage things in their favour. Justice delayed is justice denied. And such denial of justice to a nation and its people by such time-consuming process is indeed the root cause of the demand for a strong Lokpal bill. Time has come to improve the system for fast justice-delivery in cases involving politicians and other heavyweights.
— Subhash Chandra Agarwal