Located in the eastern part of the country, West Bengal is known for its delicious cuisine and rich culture. With its proximity to major states and national highways, there has been a clear rise in road traffic in this area. As of 2022, the traffic police data reveals about 178 accidents, which killed 185 people in Kolkata itself.

This alarming rate of road accidents has encouraged the government to amend the current provisions and rules of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. The amendments to this act in 2019 have made some major changes to West Bengal traffic fines.

Keep reading to get a better understanding of the new traffic fines in West Bengal.

While the central government introduced new traffic fines as per the amendments made in the Motor Vehicles Act in 2019, the West Bengal government recently decided to implement these in February 2022. Mostly, the traffic fines have increased, which is a mechanism to curb road accidents and unhealthy traffic management. This is evident from a drop of 6% in fatal accident rates in 2022 as compared to 2021.

Have Traffic Fines Been Reduced in West Bengal?

Taking a quick glance at the updated traffic fines shows an inclination towards an increase in traffic fines. For instance, driving without a valid licence attracts a fine of up to ₹5000, a sharp increase from a previous fine of ₹500.

The state government of West Bengal has avoided the hike in traffic fines from 2019 to 2022, keeping the interests and financial capabilities of the residents in mind. However, with the implementation of the new rule, the government is trying to reduce the number of traffic rule violations. The residents are likely to avoid such violations if they are subject to paying high traffic fines.

Important Points to Consider as a Citizen

As a citizen of West Bengal, following a few simple rules can help you avoid hefty traffic fines.

• Maintaining the set speed limits while driving and wearing a helmet or seat belts can be basic etiquette.
• Moreover, carrying important documents like insurance papers, registration certificates and driving licences can also be helpful here.
• While driving, you should maintain traffic rules and follow the signals.

That gives you a detailed overview of West Bengal traffic fines. It has recently been updated, increasing the fines drastically from the past. This is a move to reduce traffic violations and offences, thereby controlling the alarming rate of road accidents. However, you can avoid such heavy fines by following traffic regulations in West Bengal.