New Delhi: In a major move to strengthen the legislative framework around Road Safety in the country, the Lok Sabha today passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill (MVAB), 2019. The Bill was introduced by Gen. V.K Singh, State Minister of Road Transport and Highways last week.

With the Bill being passed in Lok Sabha, the legislative process to ensure that India has a national road safety legislation has been kickstarted again. As an organization committed to improving Road Safety in India, SaveLIFE welcomes the introduction of the Bill in Lok Sabha. Commenting on the development, Founder of SaveLIFE Foundation, Mr. Piyush Tewari said,

“This Bill is an important first step to improve road safety in India. The law will help us meet our international commitments under the Brasilia Declaration of 2015 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The next important step is speedy passage in Rajya Sabha to ensure full implementation of the Legislation.”

The MVAB, 2019 is a comprehensive bill that proposes to strengthen the three-decade old Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.The Amendment Bill rectifies several systemic issues by providing for a uniform driver licensing system, protection of children and vulnerable road users, rationalizing penalties and much more. The Bill was also part of the previous Government’s agenda as Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2017 and even though it was unanimously passed by the 16^th Lok Sabha, it lapsed because it wasn’t passed in Rajya Sabha.