Traffic Fines and New Rules in Tamil Nadu: Helmet, License, and More

Tamil Nadu is the most industrialised state in India. With major cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai serving as industrial hubs, Tamil Nadu is a state that has witnessed nearly continuous growth. And with this growth, comes opportunity, and opportunity attracts people towards the state. Tamil Nadu is also a state with increasing number of vehicles on the road. Heavy vehicle traffic coupled with increasing vehicles loosely translates to a rise in accidents. To counter this, the Tamil Nadu government implemented changes introduced in the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

Tamil Nadu traffic fine: What’s new

The Indian government amended the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 in 2019. With changing times, they felt the bill also needed to keep up with modern times. As the fines and punishments in the older bill were less stringent, the government decided to change this. The Tamil Nadu government also followed the government’s example and implemented the changes accordingly. This has certainly changed the state by a lot. However, there is still a long way to go. In the meantime, here is a list of the updates on Tamil Nadu traffic fine which you are required to pay the next time you are in the state:

Type of offence	Vehicle	Fine in Rs
Not carrying a license when driving	Four-wheeler and Two-wheeler	5000
Not wearing a seatbelt	Car	1000
Not wearing a helmet	Bike/Scooter	1000 (your license could be suspended as well for repeated offence)
Driving despite being disqualified from driving	Four- and Two-wheeler	5000
Causing noise pollution	Four- and Two-wheeler	100
Allowing a minor to drive the vehicle	Four- and Two-wheeler	25,000   (with 3-year imprisonment along with 1 year cancellation of registration. License for the minor will not be issued before they turn 25)
Driving while having offences related to the driver license	Four- and Two-wheeler	25,000 to 1 Lakh
Driving a vehicle without insurance	Four- and Two-wheeler	2000
Not having the proper permit for your vehicle	Four- and Two-wheeler	10,000   (which might also include a 6-month prison sentence)
Carrying more passengers than the permissible limit	Two-wheeler	2000   (with the risk of the license being banned for 3 months)
Driving under the influence of alcohol and banned substances	Four- and Two-wheeler	10,000 for first offence   15,000 for repeated offence   (First offence also carries a prison sentence of 6 months, with the sentence increasing to 2 years for repeated offence)
Driving in a vehicle which is deemed as oversized	Four-wheeler	5000
Driving on roads marked for pedestrians	Four- and Two-wheeler	300 to 600   (depending on the number of offences committed)
Not being deemed fit to drive a vehicle, either physically or mentally	Four- and Two-wheeler	500
Talking or texting on the phone	Four- and Two-wheeler	5000 for first offence   1000 for repeated offence

 

Additional tips for your benefit

When driving in Tamil Nadu, along with good knowledge of the Tamil Nadu traffic fines, also keep these additional tips in mind to have a safe and smooth driving experience:

1. Before you purchase vehicle insurance for your car or bike, compare different insurers. This helps you understanding the different features and services being provided by each insurer and the price difference between them.
2. If your car has been damaged in an accident, do not delay in filing a claim. You are required to file a claim within your car insurance provider’s stipulated time period or else you could risk having your claim rejected.*
3. Include the emergency roadside assistance add-on to your bike insurance With this add-on you can avail immediate emergency services in the event your bike stops functioning in the middle of the road.*
4. Make sure your vehicle is registered on time with the local RTO. Failure to do so may lead your vehicle to getting impounded by the authorities.
5. Do not try to jump the light when the traffic signal is red. Not only is this against the law, but it could also endanger the lives of those around you as well.
6. Avoid driving in opposite directions when going through a one-way road. This could lead to a major accident and cause considerable damaged to your vehicle.
7. Avoid loading combustible items in your vehicle. This could cause a major accident which could lead to injuries and fatalities.
8. Ensure to follow the norms and rules of the road, especially on highways to avoid being in any accident.

Conclusion

You can have a safe driving experience in Tamil Nadu if you follow all the road rules and maintain road safety. Insure your vehicle to have an all-round financial protection from road mishaps. This can be achieved with vehicle insurance. *Standard T&C apply Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.