Hit-and-run law: Drivers will not face stringent provision of new law if they inform police about accidents, says govt
stringent provision of the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a senior government functionary said on Tuesday. According to the BNS, «Whoever causes death of any person by rash and negligent driving of vehicle not amounting to culpable homicide, and escapes without reporting it to a police officer or a magistrate soon after the incident, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description of a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.»
Dismissing as «misplaced» the apprehensions of some truckers, who are protesting against the new law and keeping off the roads, the functionary said the provision of hit-and-run cases will be applicable to only those drivers who will try to escape without the informing the police.
«The driver who informs police about the accident will not be prosecuted under the stringent law. If the driver fears that he will be attacked if he stops at the spot of the accident, he can go to the nearest police station or can call police or the toll free emergency helpline number 108 and inform about the accident,» the functionary said.
In such cases, the driver just have to inform the police about the vehicle number, contact details and tell that he would cooperate in the investigation whenever required.
In such cases, the functionary said, the stringent provision of the law will not be applicable.
However, if the drivers runs away from the spot without informing the police, the strict provision of the law will be slapped.
Similarly, strong provision will be slapped in cases of drunken driving and subsequent accident.
