Optional Grouping: Breaking Road Rules

Traffic Signals

Under the law, a traffic light, traffic signal or stoplight is a signalling device positioned on roads to indicate when it is permissible to drive. The traffic signal passes on its information using a universal colour code¹:

• Red Light: Stop the vehicle
• Yellow Light: Slow down the vehicle/get ready to move
• Green Light: Move the vehicle

Every person who is driving a motor vehicle has a duty to follow traffic signals (( Section 12, The Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017.)). If you do not follow traffic signals, you will be fined. For example, if the traffic signal is red at an intersection, and you begin driving your car or do not stop driving your car, then you will be fined.

The amount of fine you have to pay varies from state to state, but you will have to pay at least a fine between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000². The applicable fine amount might vary across states. 

Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

 

Traffic Signs and Orders

Every person who is driving a motor vehicle has a duty to follow traffic signs, driving regulations and any directions given by traffic or police officers³. 

If you do not follow traffic signs, driving regulations or orders given to you by the traffic officer, you will be fined. For example, if you take a U-turn on an intersection where such a turn is clearly prohibited, you may be fined. 

For a full list of traffic signs with illustrations, please see the First Schedule of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which you can access here.

The amount of fine you have to pay varies from state to state, but you will have to pay at least a fine of Rs. 500 for the first offence, and a fine of Rs. 1,500 for every subsequent offence (( Section 177, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.)). The applicable fine amount might vary across states. 

Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

1. Section 12, The Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017. [↩]
2. Section 177A, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 [↩]
3. Section 119, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]

It is an offence to drive beyond the speed limit specified for a road. Most streets and roads have a sign with a number on it that signifies the maximum speed limit for that street or road. For example, if the speed limit in a school zone is 25 kmph, and you drive at 60 kmph, then you are over-speeding and can be punished. 

Given below are the minimum punishments for over-speeding for different kinds of motor vehicles:

• For over-speeding a light motor vehicle, the fine amount is between Rs. 1,000 and 2,000. For any subsequent offence, your driving license can be impounded¹.  
• For over-speeding a medium goods vehicle, a medium passenger vehicle, a heavy goods vehicle or a heavy passenger vehicle, the fine amount is between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 4,000. For any subsequent offence, your driving license can be impounded².  

The applicable fine amount might vary across states. Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

 

Given below are speed limits for different kinds of vehicles on different kinds of roads in India³. 

 

1. Section 183(1)(i)(iii), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
2. Section 183(1)(ii)(iii), The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩]
3. https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/notifications_document/Draft_Notification_no_S_O_1522E_dated_6_4_2018_regarding_Revised_Speed_Limits_0.pdf [↩]