Drivers caught obstructing or hindering emergency vehicles might face a hefty fine under proposed The Motor Vehicle (amendment) Bill 2016.
The bill proposes that any person blocking way would have to shell out Rs 10,000 as fine, while enforcement personnel who flout the rules will have to shell out twice the amount, reported The New Indian Express.
R Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said “This is a new provision in the Act, which would help emergency service vehicles,” he said.
Last year too Karnataka government ordered to cancel the licences of drivers caught guilty of obstructing emergency vehicles. However, the proposal seems to have gathered dust.
“Many motorists often overtake us and block the way. Goods vehicles drive to the right obstructing out way. Drivers of cars with air conditioning pull up the window and remain oblivious to what happens around,” said an ambulance driver.
Drivers further claim that home guards and traffic police often don’t do their duty properly.
In 2015, Delhi government introduced a legal notice and a fine of Rs 2000 on drivers of vehicles who blocked emergency vehicles. They even conducted a recce with dummy emergency vehicles and caught more than 300 people obstructing emergency vehicles.