Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017
(1) These regulations may be called the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
(1) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "Act" means the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988);
(b) "carriageway" means the part or parts of a road normally used by vehicular traffic, whether separated from one another by a dividing strip or a difference of level or not;
(c) "construction zone" means a section of the roadway where the construction activity is in progress or declared to be undertaken and which may comprise of work space, traffic space or buffer space;
(d) "heavy vehicle" means a heavy goods vehicle or heavy passenger motor vehicle as defined in clauses (16) and (17), respectively, of Section 2 of the Act;
(e) "intersection" means any level crossroad, junction or fork, including the open areas formed by such crossroads, junctions or forks;
(f) "longitudinal marking" means the road marking which is provided along the movement of traf
No vehicle shall be driven, stopped or parked on a road or in a public place in such a manner as is likely to endanger the safety of, or cause inconvenience to, other road users.
(1) Every vehicle or combination of vehicles, while moving on a road, shall have a driver.
(2) A motor vehicle shall be driven on the carriageway:
Provided that on dual carriageways, the vehicle shall be driven on the left carriageway unless otherwise directed by the police officer in uniform for the time being on the duty or by appropriate road signs.
(3) Unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise, the driver shall keep the vehicle as far as possible to the left of the carriageway, and shall allow all traffic, which is proceeding in the opposite direction, to pass on his right side.
(4) The driver shall keep the vehicle to the left while being overtaken and when approaching a bend or a hill and when his view ahead is restricted.
(5) A heavy vehicle or speed restricted vehicle shall be driven in the left lane on a carriageway with several lanes in one direction, except when overtaking an obstruction or a slower moving vehicle:
Provided
(1) Every driver shall at all times drive the vehicle with due care and caution.
(2) The driver shall ensure that at the time of driving a vehicle, he is in full control of his physical and mental abilities and physically and mentally fully fit to drive a vehicle.
(3) The driver shall at all times maintain a good lookout and concentrate on the road and the traffic and avoid any activity which distracts, or is likely to distract, his attention.
(4) The driver and the riders shall take special care and precautions to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, children, the elderly and the differently abled persons.
(5) The driver shall ensure that his vehicle, while moving or when stationary, does not cause any hindrance or undue inconvenience to other road users or to the occupants of any properties.
(6) The driver shall ensure that his view is not obstructed and his hearing is not impaired by passengers, anim
(1) Where any road is marked by lanes for movement of traffic, the driver shall drive within the lane, and change lanes only after giving a proper signal or road marking or signage.
(2) Where any lane is marked specially for a class of vehicles, a vehicle of that class shall drive in that lane only.
(3) Where a lane has been marked for a specified class of vehicles or for a special purpose, no other vehicle of any other class shall be driven in that lane.
(4) Where a road is divided by a longitudinal yellow or white solid line, the driver, proceeding in the same direction and trying to overtake another vehicle ahead, shall not cross the said yellow or white solid line.
(5) While approaching inter-sections, where turning lanes are marked with a single solid line, the driver shall ensure that the vehicle remains in the lane meant for the direction of manoeuvre.
(6) The driver shall not drive on or over a single or double longitudinal solid line, or o
(1) Where a "STOP" sign is displayed on a road, the driver facing the sign shall--
(a) stop before crossing the transverse "STOP" line preceding the "STOP" sign;
(b) in case a "STOP" line is not marked, or is marked but is not visible, stop immediately before "STOP" sign;
(c) give way to traffic on the major road; and
(d) enter the major road only when the way ahead is clear.
(2) Where a "Give Way" sign is displayed on the road, supplemented by a single or double broken transverse "Give Way" road marking, the driver shall slowdown, give way to traffic on the road he is approaching, and proceed cautiously.
(3) If there is no pedestrian crossing marked before the "Give Way" sign or "STOP" sign, the driver shall give way to the pedestrians.
(4) The vehicle emerging onto a road from a property bordering thereon shall give way to the motor vehicles and other traffic already running on that
The driver shall plan well in advance of a turn, move to the appropriate lane of the road and give signal for the intended turn in the following manner, namely:-
(1) Taking a left turn,--
(a) a driver who wishes to turn left shall clearly and in good time indicate his intention to turn left either by using direction indicator or giving appropriate hand signal;
(b) before turning left, the driver shall, in reasonable time, move to the left most lane or use a slip lane, where provided;
(c) while driving on a multi-lane road, where direction arrows pointing to the left are marked on the road, the driver shall use that lane while taking a left turn;
(d) before moving into the left lane, the driver shall keep in view the traffic to his left and behind him, and change the lane only after giving a left-turn signal;
(e) before turning left, the driver shall give way to cyclists and other
(1) The vehicle shall invariably slow down when approaching a road intersection, a road junction, a pedestrian crossing or a road corner, and shall not enter any such intersection, junction or crossing if it is likely to endanger the safety of other road users moving onto, or already on, such intersection, road junction, pedestrian crossing or road corner.
(2) At intersections and junctions, vehicles approaching from the right side shall have the right of way:
Provided that this sub-regulation shall not apply,--
(a) when the junction or intersection is being regulated by manual signals by anauthorised person, traffic lights or mandatory traffic signs; or
(b) when the vehicle is exiting a minor road and entering a major road.
(3) A motor vehicle shall not enter an intersection if the traffic on the intersection has come to a standstill even if it is on the main road or has a signal to proceed.
(1) While entering a roundabout, traffic already in the roundabout shall have the right of way.
(2) A motor vehicle approaching a roundabout shall choose the lane relevant to the direction of its further movement.
(3) The driver shall use indicators when changing lanes within the roundabout.
(4) While exiting the roundabout, the driver shall follow the procedure specified in sub-regulation (2) of regulation (6) for taking a left turn.
(1) The driver shall clearly indicate his intention to change course, turn left or right and before making any manoeuvre, using mechanical or electrical devices fitted in the vehicle or by hand signals.
(2) In case a mechanical or electrical device in (sic: is) not fitted in the vehicle for giving signals or, the said device is provided but not functioning, the driver shall give manual signals as specified below--
(i) to stop, a driver shall raise his right forearm vertically outside of, and to the right of, the vehicle, palm to the right;
(ii) to turn to the right or to drive to the right-hand side of the road in order to pass another vehicle or for any other reason, the driver shall extend his right arm in a horizontal position outside of, and to the right of, his vehicle with the palm of the hand turned to the front;
(iii) to turn to the left or to drive to the left-hand side of the road, the driver shall extend hi
While approaching a traffic control signal, the vehicle shall slow down and follow the directions given by the traffic control signals in the following manner, namely:--
(1) Red traffic light,--
(a) a motor vehicle facing the red light of a traffic control signal at an intersection or at a place other than an intersection, shall stop the vehicle before the stop line preceding the pedestrian crossing;
(b) if the stop line is not marked or, if marked is not visible, the vehicle shall stop before the pedestrian crossing;
(c) if there is no marked pedestrian crossing, the vehicle shall stop before the primary traffic signal;
(d) the vehicle shall move with caution after the green traffic signal turns on;
(e) when, at an intersection or at a place other than an intersection, rapid intermittent flashes of red light are displayed by a traffic con
(1) Where a police officer in uniform or any other authorised person is regulating the traffic at an intersection or at a place other than an intersection, the driver shall slowdown the vehicle and follow the directions of the said officer or person.
(2) When a "STOP" signal is shown by the police officer in uniform or any other authorised person, the driver shall stop the vehicle before the stop line preceding the pedestrian crossing.
(3) In case the stop line is not marked or, if marked is not visible, the driver shall stop the vehicle before the pedestrian crossing.
(4) In case there is no marked pedestrian crossing, the driver shall stop the vehicle before the approaching road at the junction.
(5) When a vehicle has stopped in compliance to a "STOP" signal given by the police officer in uniform or any other authorized person, it shall not move further until a signal to proceed is given by the said officer or person.
(1) A motor vehicle shall not overtake any other road user unless it is safe and not in violation of the provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder or any other law for the time being in force.
(2) A vehicle shall be overtaken only from the right side:
Provided that a vehicle may be overtaken from the left, if--
(a) the vehicle which is to overtake and the vehicle which is to be overtaken are both driving on a multi-lane road and the vehicle ahead can be safely overtaken in a marked lane to the left of the vehicle being overtaken;
(b) the vehicle to be overtaken is either turning right or making a 'U' turn from the centre of the road and is giving a signal to turn and it would be safe to overtake it from the left; or
(c) the vehicle to be overtaken is stationary and it is safe to pass it from the left.
(3) No vehicle shall be overtaken if such overtaking is likely to impede the oncoming traffic.
(1) A motor vehicle entering a national highway or a state highway or a major district road shall give way to traffic on the highway or the major district road, as the case may be.
(2) At an intersection of two roads of same category, the driver of the motor vehicle on the right shall have the right of way.
(3) Wherever applicable, the driver shall use the acceleration for merging lane to build up speed of the vehicle before merging it in the traffic on the highway or on the major district road.
(4) Before and while merging in the traffic, the driver shall keep a close watch on the traffic through 1[rear view mirror or devices for indirect vision] and side-view mirrors and signal his intention to merge.
(5) The driver shall not attempt to overtake a vehicle or vehicles ahead of him unless he has stayed long enough in the left-hand lane or the lane in which he had been driving.
(1) A driver shall drive only at a speed which allows him control of the vehicle at all times, taking into account the driving conditions, including to the condition of the vehicle and its load, the road, other traffic, visibility and weather.
(2) The vehicle shall, during fog, rainfall, snowfall, storm or desert winds, be driven at a lower speed to enable the driver to stop the vehicle within the range of forward vision.
(3) A motor vehicle shall not be driven--
i. at a speed exceeding or less than the maximum or minimum speed limit specified on the signages; and
ii. at a speed exceeding the maximum speed limit notified by the competent authority or authorities for that class of vehicles and for the class of roads on which it is for the time being driven.
(4) No driver shall, without good and sufficient reason, drive so slowly as to impede the normal traffic flow.
(5) No driver shall drive at a speed exceeding twenty-f
(1) A driver driving behind another vehicle shall keep sufficient distance, commensurate with the traffic conditions, from the vehicle ahead, so as to be able to stop (pull up) safely if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows down or stops.
(2) When being followed by another vehicle, not suddenly brake without a compelling reason.
(3) The driver shall during rainfall, snow or storm orice on the road due to severe weather conditions and during other adverse weather conditions, further increase the distance from the vehicle ahead.
(1) No driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle backwards (in the reverse direction) on a road or in a parking or any other public place:
Provided that the driver shall while driving backwards ensure that the backward movement of the vehicle does not in any manner endanger the safety of, or cause undue inconvenience to, the other road users and that such reverse movement is for a distance and duration that may be reasonably necessary to turn around the vehicle.
(2) No motor vehicle shall be driven on to a public road in the reverse direction.
(3) No motor vehicle shall be driven backwards into a road designated as "ONE WAY".
(1) Rail-borne vehicles shall have over-riding priority at all unmanned level crossings.
(2) A driver shall slow down when approaching a railway crossing and shall--
i. not park the vehicle within the barriers of a railway crossing;
ii. not overtake within the barriers of a railway crossing; and
iii. keep to the left of the roadway.
(3) At a guarded railway crossing, no motor vehicle shall enter the crossing after the gates or barriers have been closed or have started to close or when the vehicular traffic is facing red light signal.
(4) At an unguarded railway crossing,--
(a) a motor vehicle shall enter the crossing only after ensuring that no rolling stock is in sight; and,
(b) the driver of a bus, including a school bus, a goods vehicle, a tractor trolley carrying farm labour or goods and a vehicle carrying hazardous, flammable or dangerous materials, shall stop at the approach of the railway crossing a
(1) The driver shall switch on the dipped lights before entering a tunnel.
(2) No driver shall overtake, make a U-Turn or drive backwards inside a tunnel.
(3) No driver shall stop or park the vehicle within a tunnel unless absolutely unavoidable and, in such situation, switch on the hazard warning lights of the vehicle and also place reflective traffic warning triangles as specified in clause (c) of sub-rule (4) of rule 138 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, at a distance of twenty meters each from the vehicle in the front of, and behind, the vehicle.
(1) On mountain roads and steep roads, where the road is not sufficiently wide to allow the motor vehicles to cross each other freely, the driver travelling downhill shall--
i. stop the vehicle on the left side of the road; and
ii. allow the vehicle proceeding uphill to pass first.
(1) A vehicle shall not be stopped--
i. at a place where the road is narrow or the view is obstructed;
ii. near or on a sharp bend;
iii. in an acceleration or a deceleration lane;
iv. on, or five meters before, a pedestrian crossing;
v. on a level crossing;
vi. five meters or less before a traffic light signal or "Give Way" sign or "STOP" sign or if a stationary vehicle is likely to obstruct these signs from the view of other road users;
vii. at designated bus stands if the vehicle is other than a bus;
viii. on a yellow box marked on road; and
ix. where prohibited by a mandatory "No Stopping" sign.
(2) A vehicle shall not be parked--
(a) at a place where stopping a vehicle is prohibited under sub-regulation (1);
(b) on a main road or at a stretch of a road where the notified maximu
(1) Unnecessary use of horn is prohibited.
(2) As far as may be, the horn shall be sounded only when the driver apprehends danger to himself or to any other road user.
(3) The driver shall sound the horn when directed by the mandatory sign.
(4) The driver shall not--
(a) sound the horn continuously or repeatedly or for a duration longer than necessary or in a residential areas or in a silence zone indicated by a mandatory sign;
(b) make use of a cut-out by which exhaust gases are released other than through the silencer;
(c) fit or use an air horn or a multi-toned horn giving a harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise except as provided in sub-rule (3) of Rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules,1989; and
(d) drive a vehicle which creates undue noise or causes an alarming sound when in motion.
(1) While passing along formations such as funeral and other procession or a body of troops or police contingent on the march, or pack or saddle of animals or cattle, the driver shall reduce the speed of the vehicle, and pass by the formation slowly and cautiously, leaving adequate space between the formation and the vehicle.
(2) If the formation as described in sub-regulation (1) is crossing, or is about to cross, the road in front of the vehicle, the driver shall stop the vehicle and allow the formation to cross the road and not drive through the formation.
Unless validly permitted by the competent authority under the Act or the rules made thereunder, no driver shall--
i. offer goods or services of any kind on the road; or
ii. display any advertisement on the vehicle.
(1) The driver of a vehicle designated by the State Government for emergency services under sub-rule (4) of rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 including a vehicle used as ambulance or for fire-fighting or for salvage purposes or a police vehicle, shall operate the multi-toned horn (siren) and the multi-coloured light with flasher only when the vehicle is responding to an emergency call or an alarm.
(2) An emergency vehicle, while its multi-toned horn and the flasher is on, shall have the right of way over all the other vehicles.
(3) In a case of utmost emergency like saving a human life, warding off serious damage to health of a person, prevent commission of a crime or damage to essential services or fight a fire, the driver of the emergency vehicle with the multi-toned horn and the multi-coloured flasher operating may, with utmost care, responsibility and caution--
i. cross a red traffic light;
ii. exceed the specifi
In case a vehicle with more than two wheels has broken down at a place where it can be recognised in time as a stationary obstacle,--
i. the hazard warning lights of the vehicle shall be switched on immediately;
ii. on highways and major roads with fast speed, reflective traffic warning triangles shall be placed at a distance of fifty meters behind the broken-down vehicle; and
iii. if there is a bend on the road where the vehicle is parked, reflective traffic warning triangles shall be placed before the bend.
(1) The driver shall maintain absolute cool in case of an accident and do nothing that may harm the other driver or vehicle involved in the accident or any other person.
(2) Minor accidents,--
i. the driver or drivers, as the case may be, involved in the accident shall alight from the vehicle and take pictures of the vehicles, the occupants of the vehicles, any pedestrian or any other person or vehicle, whether motor vehicle or otherwise, and the accident scene, if possible;
ii. the drivers shall pull the vehicles out of the road immediately so that the vehicles are clear of on coming traffic;
iii. the driver or drivers shall place reflective traffic warning triangles near or around the vehicles to alert other drivers, and turn on hazard warning lights;
iv. the driver or the riders shall immediately call the police or ambulance or nearest hospital if anyone has been hurt;
v. The driver s
(1) No two-wheeled motor vehicle shall be towed by another vehicle.
(2) The maximum speed while towing a vehicle shall not exceed twenty-five kilometres per hour.
(3) The distance between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle shall not exceed five meters;
(4) The tow ropes or chains shall be prominently visible to other by road users.
(5) A retro reflective "ON TOW" sign not less than ten centimetres in height and two centimetres in width with spacing of two centimetres between the letters on white background shall be displayed on the front of the towing vehicle and at the rear of the vehicle being towed and a driver shall not tow a vehicle at night, in darkness or in adverse weather conditions unless the hazard warning lights of both vehicles are switched on:
Provided that if the hazard warning lights of the vehicle being towed are not functional, it shall not be towed unless the hazard warning lights of the towing vehicle are switched on.
(1) The driver shall use the specified lighting devices at nightfall, at night and at dawn and at other times when visibility is poor:
Provided that the driver of a two-wheeled motor vehicle shall drive with dipped head lights switched on during the day time also.
(2) The lighting devices of a vehicle shall at all times be kept in good working condition and no lighting device shall be obscured by any object or dirt.
(3) No driver shall--
i. drive the vehicle with parking lights only, unless so directed by a police officer in uniform or any other authorised person; and
ii. use high beam inappropriately or for long duration or on well-lit roads.
(4) High beam shall be dipped in good time on the approach of an oncoming vehicle or when driving close behind another vehicle.
(5) The driver shall switch on the fog light headlamps only when visibility is considerably affected due to fog, dust, storm, rain or snow a
(1) The driver of a tractor shall not carry, or allow any person to be carried, on the tractor.
(2) The number of persons in the driver's cabin of a goods carriage shall not be more than the number of persons specified in the certificate of registration of the vehicle.
(3) No person shall be carried in a goods carriage for hire or reward.
In urban areas, on roads having a maximum speed limit of forty kilometres per hour, wherever specifically permitted by road signs, motor cyclists may filter between three and four wheeled vehicles when the speed difference between the motor cyclists and the other vehicles does not exceed fifteen kilometres per hour.
No driver of a public service vehicle shall carry, or allow any other person to carry, any explosive or highly inflammable or otherwise dangerous substance except the fuel and lubricants required for the vehicle.
(1) The driver shall at all times ensure that loads, including load restraints and loading equipment, in the vehicle are stowed and restrained in such manner that these cannot slip, fall over, roll around, fall off the vehicle or produce avoidable noise, even in an emergency braking situation or if the vehicle swerves suddenly.
(2) No driver shall drive in any public place a motor vehicle which is loaded in a manner which is likely to cause danger to any person.
(3) The load or any part thereof, or any other object in the vehicle shall not extend laterally beyond the sides of the body or to the front or to the rear, or exceed in height or weight the limits specified in the certificate of registration of the vehicle.
(1) No vehicle shall be driven or parked on a public road without displaying registration plates as prescribed by the Act and the rules made thereunder.
(2) The registration plates on the front and at the rear of the vehicle shall be clearly visible and legible and no object whatsoever or dirt shall obstruct clear view of the entire registration place.
(3) No letter, word, figure, picture or symbol other than the registration number shall be displayed or inscribed or written on the registration plates.
(4) No load or other goods shall be placed on a motor vehicle in such manner as to fully or partly hide the registration plate.
(1) The driver shall not use any hand held mobile phone or other communication device.
1[Provided that such use is solely for route navigation by fixing the device on the dashboard of the vehicle in such a manner that shall not disturb the concentration of the driver while driving.]
(2) No trainer or supervisor shall use a mobile phone or other communication device while training or supervising a learner driver.
(1) The driver of a transport vehicle shall always carry with him the following 1[documents in physical or electronic form], except for a document that might have been seized by an authorised person or authority, namely:--
(a) driving license;
(b) certificate of taxation;
(c) certificate of registration;
(d) certificate of insurance;
(e) fitness certificate; and
(f) pollution under control certificate.
(2) The driver of a vehicle transporting hazardous or dangerous goods shall carry documents specified in Rules 132 and133 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
(3) The driver of a non-transport vehicle shall always carry with him 2[in physical or electronic form]--
(a) the driving license and pollution under control certificate; and
(b) certificate of registration and certificate of insurance or photoco
(1) While approaching an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing, the driver shall slowdown, stop and give way to pedestrians, users of invalid carriages and wheelchairs.
(2) If traffic has come to a standstill, the driver shall not drive the vehicle on the pedestrian crossing if he is unlikely to be able to move further and thereby block the pedestrian crossing.
(3) When any road is provided with a footpath or cycle track, no vehicle shall drive on such footpath or track, except on the directions of a police officer in uniform or where traffic signs permitting such movement have been displayed.
Every driver shall be conversant with and possess adequate knowledge and understanding of the following, namely:--
(a) road signs, markings and traffic control signals;
(b) Provisions of the following sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, namely:--
(i) Section 19: Grounds for disqualification or revocation of driving license;
(ii) Section 112: Limits of speed;
(iii) Section 113: Limit of weight and limitations on use;
(iv) Section 121: Signals and signalling devices;
(v) Section 122: Leaving vehicles in dangerous positions;
(vi) Section 125: Obstruction of a driver;
(vii) Section 132: Duty of a driver to stop in certain cases;
(viii) Section 133: Duty of owner of motor vehicle to give information;
(ix) Section 134: Duty of a
(1) A police officer in uniform or an authorised officer of the State Government, may stop a motor vehicle by giving a signal by means of technical device on the vehicle or a signalling disc or a red light for verifying the certificate of fitness of the vehicle or for collecting required information in respect of the vehicle or the driver or other occupants the vehicle, and the vehicle owner or driver shall comply with the instructions given by such officer.
(2) Every driver shall obey the directions given by mandatory signages, road markings and signalling devices operated by an authority competent to do so or by a police officer in uniform or by an authorised person for the time being on duty.
(3) Notwithstanding any other rule for the time being in force or any order, road sign, marking or traffic light signal, and without prejudice to the duty of the driver to exercise due care and caution, the driver shall obey the signals or instructions of a police officer on du
Legal Comments
Introduction - Regulation 24 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 operates within the broader framework of the Motor Vehicles Act and the Road Safety Policy, guiding enforcement actions by licensing authorities, including suspension/disqualification of licenses for violations of driving regulations. [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
What Section Says - Regulation 24 provides procedural mechanics around licensing actions: issuing show-cause notices, providing hearing, and issuing suspension orders under Section 19; it also contemplates compounding and clarifies that compounding does not automatically bar subsequent licensing actions. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala]
Essential ingredients - Core elements include: (i) a show-cause notice with particulars of violations and directions; (ii) an opportunity for hearing under Section 19(1) MV Act; (iii) a reasoned suspension order; (iv) potential reliance on compounding under the Act, without double jeopardy; (v) alignment with the regulatory intent to enforce road-safety norms. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala] [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Scope of Section - The provision applies to licensing authorities empowered under the MV Act/Driving Regulations to take administrative action (suspension/disqualification) for contraventions of the Driving Regulations, as part of enforcing the Road Safety Policy across States/UTs. [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Punishment for Section - Primary sanction is administrative: suspension or disqualification of the driving license under Section 19; as contemporaneous practice, the regime also intersects with penalties under the MV Act amendments (e.g., seizure/suspension for unsafe vehicles, loss of license) and, where relevant, penalties for road-safety violations under amendments to Section 190 and related provisions. See related provisions and jurisprudence. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department] [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Relation to Road Safety policy and higher court directions - Regulation 24 functions as a key tool to implement the Supreme Court–driven Road Safety policy, including Committee on Road Safety directives and lane- and safety-focused regulations, as endorsed in Rajaseekaran v. Union of India and subsequent Kerala enforcement jurisprudence. [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala] [P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala]
Procedural steps – Show cause, hearing, and reasoned order - The process typically requires a show-cause notice (with particulars and references to the violated regulations), a hearing under Section 19(1) MV Act, and a formal suspension order setting out reasons; this sequence reinforces due process in licensing actions. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala]
Double jeopardy and compounding - The courts have held that compounding an offence under the MV Act does not automatically negate the Licensing Authority’s power to suspend/disqualify under Regulation 24; the licensing action can proceed notwithstanding compounding, and cannot be treated as duplicative punishment. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala]
Interaction with Road Safety standards (AIS/Central Rules) - Enforcement under Regulation 24 is reinforced by overarching standards in AIS/CMV Rules (lighting, signage, visibility, etc.) and by Kerala/Judicial decisions emphasizing strict compliance with Central Motor Vehicles Rules; violations may trigger licensing actions and further penalties. [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department] [Principal, Sabari PTB Smaraka H. S. S. , Adakkaputhur, Ottapalam VS Additional Registering Authority] [P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala]
Offences and enforcement examples illustrating the ecosystem - The jurisprudence surrounding Regulation 24 sits in a web that includes: driving at excess speed, overloads, helmets, mobile use, and other road-safety infractions; enforcement actions through suspension/disqualification align with broader Road Safety directives. This is reflected in court discussions on driver conduct and enforcement philosophy. [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala] [P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala] [015000473? (example citations in the set show related enforcement themes)]
Relationship to Supreme Court road-safety mandates - Kerala and other courts reference the Rajaseekaran framework and the MoRTH Reg 2017 Driving Regulations to justify strict enforcement and suspension of licenses for unsafe driving and non-compliance with road-safety standards. [P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala] [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Practical import for licensing authorities - Regulation 24 empowers licensing authorities to act promptly (issue show-cause notices, hold hearings, issue reasoned suspensions) to deter violations, maintain road safety, and align with national road-safety policy directions. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala] [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Role of courts in validating enforcement posture - The Kerala and broader Indian jurisprudence repeatedly upholds the use of Regulation 24–driven licensing actions as a legitimate enforcement mechanism, consistent with Avishek Goenka, Saji K.M., Ma'Din Public School line of authorities on vehicle standards and public-safety duty. [Principal, Sabari Ptb Smaraka H. S. S, Adakkaputhur VS Additional Registering Authority] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala, Represented by the Secretary/Joint Secretary to Government, Transport Department, Government Secretariate] [Principal, Sabari PTB Smaraka H. S. S. , Adakkaputhur, Ottapalam VS Additional Registering Authority] [P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala]
Connectivity with road safety guidelines (footpaths, parking, etc.) - The Regulation 24 framework operates in tandem with guidelines from IRC (pedestrian facilities) and footpath-parkings rules, underscoring that enforcement actions (including license suspensions) help ensure compliance with pedestrian safety and road-use norms. [015000529? (see related Kerala footpath/IRC citations in P. D. Mathew VS State of Kerala, Suo Motu VS State of Kerala)]
Driver licensing and training implications - The interplay between licensing rules (Rule 24, training schools, and Rule 24’s applicability to license-suspension processes) underscores the importance of proper training, certification, and compliance with CMV Rules to avoid regulatory actions that trigger Regulation 24-based suspensions. [Bidyarthi Motor Training School VS State of West Bengal] [Principal, Sabari PTB Smaraka H. S. S. , Adakkaputhur, Ottapalam VS Additional Registering Authority]
Interaction with amendments and penalties (MV Amendment Act 2019) - The 2019 amendments to the MV Act/Regulations broaden the spectrum of penalties for unsafe vehicle conditions and noncompliance (e.g., Section 190(4), 182A penalties), reinforcing the gravity of enforcement under Regulation 24 when road-safety standards are breached. [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala, Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department]
Key takeaway for practice - Regulation 24 of MV (Driving) Regulations, 2017 is a vital administrative tool enabling licensing authorities to suspend/disqualify licenses for violations of the Driving Regulations, and it interfaces with broader road-safety standards, court directions, and amendments aimed at strengthening enforcement. [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala] [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala]
Notable related authority (footnote context) - Multiple Kerala decisions (Ma'Din Public School, Jijith, Saji, Noushad M., Sabari PTB, Kottamom) illustrate the judiciary’s reinforcement of AIS-008/AIS-052 compliance and the centrality of road-safety enforcement, which Regulation 24 operationalizes via licensing action. [Principal, Sabari PTB Smaraka H. S. S. , Adakkaputhur, Ottapalam VS Additional Registering Authority] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department] [Saji K. M. VS Deputy Transport Commissioner, Central Zone -1, Thrissur] [Kottamom (Kottiyar Mangalam) Sri Darmasastha Temple Advisory Committee, Rep. By Its Secretary Mr. K. Pradeep Kumar VS State of Kerala, Represented By The Secretary, Home Department, Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala]
Summary observation - Regulation 24 embodies a principled, due-process-based administrative mechanism to enforce driving regulations and road-safety norms, harmonizing with Supreme Court directives and state-level enforcement to reduce traffic hazards and promote pedestrian safety; its use is supported by a body of Case Law and Amendments that strengthen licensing actions as a deterrent against noncompliance. [Anoop K. A, S/o. Abdul Rahman VS State Of Kerala] [Muflih S/o Hussain V. K. VS State of Kerala Represented By Its Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala] [Suo Motu VS State of Kerala Represented By The Secretary/Joint Secretary To Government, Transport Department]
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