Citizens Awareness Group along with Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organized a stakeholder workshop at Press Club, Sector 27-Chandigarh on 30th August 2019. The main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the road safety aspects of MVA 2019.

The consultation started with the introductory message by Shri Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer VOICE on road safety. He highlighted the salient features of New Motor Vehicles Act 2019 and various comparable amendments related to road safety.

He said “Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 1988 which came into force in 1989 was a 30 year old act which required a replacement. In the new Motor Vehicles Act 2019 around 89 provisions like increase in penalty related to risk factors such as drunk driving, over speeding, helmet wearing, seat belt and child restraint, culpability of parents of juveniles for violation of rules, provisions for the electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety, good Samaritan provisions etc are included to strengthen road safety.

Speaking at the event Shri Virat, senior official from Registering and Licensing Authority of Chandigarh welcomes the new provisions in the Motor Vehicles Act 2019. He explained various amendments related to registration and licensing. He mentioned that besides penalties, these clauses are also very important for road users to know. He dwelt upon the centralized licensing and registration provisions.

A discussion also took place on the six pillars of road safety and new provisions, amended laws where Ms. Rinki Sharma, Head Projects-Consumer VOICE highlighted about the new fines on the traffic violations. Shri Surender Verma, Chairperson Citizens Awareness Group also presented his views on adoption of the new Act soon to improve road safety measures in the state.

The program was largely attended by Transport and Traffic Police officials, Students, Media, Civil society organisations and activists working on road safety . The event was well covered by regional media.

Later there was a meeting held at the secretariat with Dr.Ajay Kumar Singla, IAS Principal Secretary-Transport Chandigarh Administration, Shri Harjeet Singh Sandhu, Joint Secretary-State Transport Authority where Shri Ashim Sanyal and Ms.Rinki Sharma and Shri Surinder Verma handed over a memorandum mentioning to adopt the new rules in the state Motor Vehicles Act.,