The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 was published on 9th August 2019. The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions. Few provisions are:

Compensation for road accident victims

Minimum Compensation payable to Accident victims increased

Compulsory insurance

The Act requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India. It will be utilised for:

(i) treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme,

(ii) compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident,

(iii) compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident, and

(iv) compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government.

Good samaritans

The Act defines a good samaritan as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident. Such a person will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim.

Recall of vehicles

The Act has provision to allow the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.