Repeated traffic violations could soon have more serious consequences for drivers under a proposed negative points system being developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the proposed system would deduct points from a driver’s licence and the vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC) for every traffic offence. If violations accumulate beyond a prescribed limit, the licence or RC could face suspension or cancellation.
The proposed framework is aimed at identifying habitual offenders and encouraging safer driving behaviour. Drivers with clean records could potentially receive incentives, including benefits from insurance companies, while repeated offenders would face stricter penalties.
The government is also considering amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act to introduce the points-based demerit system. A Lok Sabha response has said the amendments for a points-based system are under active consideration, while real-time tracking of repeat offenders is already available through the eChallan portal.
Gadkari has linked the proposed system to a broader road-safety push, including the expansion of driver training infrastructure. The ministry plans to establish 1,600 driving training centres across the country, with 24 already operational and 112 more in the pipeline.
The proposed system could mark a shift towards behaviour-based monitoring of drivers, with repeated violations carrying consequences beyond individual traffic fines.
