New Traffic Rules in India 2025: Massive Fines, 10-Year Jail for Hit and Run

The Indian government has significantly revised traffic violation fines. These updated fines have gone into effect from 1st March 2025. The revised fines aim at stringently enforcing road discipline and dissuading reckless driving. The enforcement is done not only with heavier fines but also other methods like imprisonment and community service for serious offences. 

Traffic fines have increased by up to 10 times, reaching ₹25,000 for some offences, with others carrying imprisonment terms of up to 3 years. The new rulebook has an updated provision for Hit and Run cases. The law now comes under the provision of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 where punishment has been increased from a 2 year prison time to a 10 year prison time along with a fine of ₹7 lakh. 

Hit and Run Rule: A Much Needed Upgrade

Hit and Run crime previously fell under Section 304A of the IPC, 1860, which labelled it as causing death by negligence. The maximum punishment for causing death by negligence was a two-year imprisonment term. The new Hit and Run rule now comes under the legal framework of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. There are 2 sections under this law, each carrying a different punishment. 

Section 106 (1) applies to drivers who cause death due to rash or negligent driving but report the accident to the police. They are liable to a punishment of up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine. Drivers who flee the accident scene without informing the police will be charged under Section 106 (2) and face up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine. 

The government has introduced stricter laws to enforce accountability on the driver while also ensuring that the victim receives medical support on time. The stringent penalties should also act as a deterrent against rash and negligent driving. 

Revised Fines List: More Fines for Traffic Offenders

The Government’s new traffic fines not only pinch the offender’s wallet, it also carry the risk of serious jail time. Here is a more detailed look at the new fines and penalties for traffic rule breakers:

Drunk Driving

Previously, those caught driving or riding under the influence of alcohol or other mind altering drugs faced a monetary fine between ₹ 1,000 and ₹ 1,500. Under the new provision, first time offenders will face a fine of ₹ 10,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months. Repeat offenders face a fine of ₹ 15,000 and/or a prison time of up to 2 years. The new penalties for drunk driving add a significant 10 times more penalty and additional jail time.

Driving Using a Mobile Phone

Driving while using a mobile phone attracted a penalty of ₹ 500 according to the old rulebook. Under the new provision, using a mobile phone while driving now attracts a fine of ₹5,000. The new penalty is now 10 times more than before, a move to discourage drivers from this dangerous practice. 

Not Wearing a Seatbelt

Driving without a seatbelt attracted a fine of ₹ 100 under the previous rulebook. The new provisions now cap the fine at ₹ 1,000. That’s a ten fold increase in fines and should help make wearing seatbelts a more widespread practice. 

Driving Without a Licence

Previously, driving without a license attracted a fine of ₹ 500. Under the new rule, the misdemeanour attracts a fine of ₹ 5,000, a ten fold increase. 

Driving Without Pollution Certificate

Driving without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate previously attracted a fine of ₹ 1,000. Under the new rule, the perpetrator will now be fined ₹ 10,000 and an additional 6 month imprisonment term or community service. 

Driving Without Insurance

Under the previous provision, driving without a valid car insurance policy attracted a fine of ₹ 1,000. The fine has now been revised to ₹ 2,000 for first time offenders and ₹ 4,000 for repeat offenders. 

Dangerous Driving

Rash driving previously attracted a fine of ₹ 500 which, under the new provision, has gone up to ₹ 5,000. That’s a ten fold increase in fines. 

Overspeeding

Driving over the prescribed speed limit is a punishable offence. The previous fine for overspeeding was ₹ 500. It has now been raised to ₹ 5,000 under the new laws, a ten fold increase in fines. 

Blocking Emergency Vehicles

Blocking an emergency vehicle like an Ambulance or a Fire Brigade truck is a punishable offence. It previously attracted a fine of ₹ 1,000. Under the new provisions, the offence attracts a fine of ₹ 10,000.

Signal Jumping

Jumping a red light attracted a fine of ₹ 5,00 under the old laws. The new provision now mandates a fine of ₹ 5,000, a ten fold increase. 

Overloading

Loading a vehicle over its permissible limit previously attracted a fine of ₹ 2,000. The fine has now been raised to ₹ 25,000. That’s 12.5 times more than before. 

Juvenile Offences: Guardians Pay Dearly

The previous fine for a minor (aged under 18 years) driving a vehicle was ₹ 2,500. Under the new provisions, this offence will be heavily penalised in a bid to deter underage driving. Unlike before, both the guardian or car owner and minor will be penalised. This is in addition to other penalties for traffic offences committed by the minor. 

Under the new rule, if a minor is caught driving, the car owner or the minor’s guardian will be held liable even if they were unaware of the juvenile’s actions. The guardian/car owner is liable to a fine of ₹ 25,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 years and his car’s registration will be suspended for 12 months. Authorities will also bar the minor from obtaining a license until he becomes 25 years old. 

Tips to Avoid Traffic Fines: Save Yourself and Your Wallet

Knowing the traffic fines is like winning half the battle. Here are some important tips to remember while driving that can save you and your wallet:

• Keep your vehicle documents handy. These include your driving licence, vehicle smart card, valid PUC certificate and vehicle insurance. You can also show digital documents to traffic personnel via the mParivahan or DigiLocker apps. These are legally recognized under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• Ensure you follow the traffic signs and speed limits. Keep an eye out for road signs showing speed limits, no entry and other signs. 
• The same applies for parking as well. Always park in designated parking spots. Do not park on the road or at a place where there is a No Parking sign nearby. 
• Follow traffic signals. Avoid jumping the red light before it turns green. Also, avoid trying to cross the intersection on an amber light. Both instances have high chance of you getting penalised. Be patient.
• Always wear seatbelts even if you intend to travel a couple of kilometres. This applies to all occupants of the vehicle. 
• Always give way to emergency vehicles like ambulances or fire tenders. If you hear or see an ambulance in your rearview mirror, start moving to the left (or right) side immediately. Do not wait until the ambulance is right behind you. Also, do not chase ambulances, it increases the chances of accidents.

In case you are fined, it is better to pay the fine immediately online. This will save you the risk of additional fines being added as well as the hassle of paying them physically. 

Conclusion

The revised traffic rules and regulations see a major hike in fines and prison sentences. Most fines now see a 10X hike while Hit and Run cases now come under the ambit of BNS 2024 which pushed for a prison term of up to 10 years. Juvenile cases now see stricter punishment for the guardian/ car owners while the minor will be punished as well. 

The rising rate of road accidents across India is a major reason for the stringent fines. The heavy monetary fines and prison times should act as a deterrent to rule breakers and help bring road accident cases down. The Government could also use these fines to help ramp up road infrastructure, especially monitoring systems like AI based traffic surveillance systems.