Using mobile phone while driving can invite fine upto Rs 5,000

New amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act ban use of mobile phones for calling or SMSing. You can't use handsfree as well.

With increasing number of road accidents attributed to mobile phone usage, the Government of India has now decided to toughen the rules to curb use of mobile phones while driving. The Union Cabinet has cleared amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act which now puts stringent restrictions on use of mobile phone during driving.

Now not only making calls but using your phone to SMS, will invite a heavy fine. Even, using handsfree has now been banned.

Using a mobile phone while driving would attract a minimum fine of Rs 500 for the first time while repeat offenders have to pay a fine up to Rs 5,000.

The dictate has not came out of the blue. According to a study, almost 80 per cent of road accidents in the USA happens due to distractions and are attributed to use of mobile phones. India accounts for about 10 per cent of road accident fatalities, despite having only one percent of the world's vehicle population.