The introduction of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) has brought a new era of legal improvements in India, particularly in dealing with critical hit-and-run cases. The BNS aims to improve road safety by implementing stricter penalties for drivers who cause serious road accidents through careless driving and afterwards flee the scene without informing the police or any official from the administration.
Under this new law, drivers involved in such hit-and-run cases face severe punishments. This is a significant increase from the previous maximum of two years under the IPC and shows an honest attempt by lawmakers to prevent negligent driving. They could face 10 years in prison or a high fine of ₹7 Lakh.
In 2021, India witnessed 57,415 hit-and-run accidents, resulting in 25,938 deaths and 45,355 injuries. These figures accounted for 13.9% of all accidents and 16.8% of all deaths due to road accidents in the country for that year.
This shows the severity of the issue in the country. The introduction of this law was necessary to make people responsible for their actions and protect people’s lives.
Truck drivers across India strongly object to the newly introduced hit-and-run law, arguing that its harsh penalties could lead to financial difficulties and put their careers at risk. The All India Motor Transport Congress has called for the law’s withdrawal due to concerns about potential harassment.
The drivers are nervous about the harsh nature of the law and the high fines, fearing both personal financial impact and a discouragement effect on future prospective drivers entering the profession. They also expressed worry about possible unfair sentencing for accidents outside their control.
These protests have resulted in significant delays to transportation and supply chains, with approximately 70% of their trucks and containers off the roads in Mumbai, which impacts the distribution of fuel and essentials.
Future Impacts on Accidents
The introduction of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita’s new hit-and-run law is expected to impact India’s road safety and accident statistics significantly.
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Firstly, the severe penalties are likely to act as a strong warning against careless driving, thus possibly leading to a decrease in hit-and-run incidents. As drivers become more conscious of the severe consequences of running from an accident scene, it is expected that more will stay to provide help and report incidents, thereby improving response times and aid to victims.
Also, this legal change could lead to a cultural shift in driving behaviour, which would encourage more responsible and cautious driving practices. Over time, this could result in a slow but significant reduction in accidents, injuries, and deaths on Indian roads..
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