Hyderabad: Traffic officials plan to include more rule violations in the list offences which will lead to cancellation of the driving licence. The additional offences include cellphone driving, jumping signals, over-speeding and over-loading of vehicles.
These offences are being included following the Supreme Court directions to suspend the licence for “dangerous driving” causing threat to the life of not only the driver but other road users as well. The earlier plan was to suspend the licence only in drunk driving cases.
State joint transport commissioner B. Venkateshwarlu told this correspondent that officials had suspended the driving licenses of nearly 100 motorists booked for drunken driving, cell phone driving and over-loading of vehicles. “We have suspended the driving licences of nearly 60 motorists in Hyderabad and Cyberabad for being booked on multiple occasions for drunken driving and cell phone driving. In Mahbubnagar and Medak, 30 driving licences have been suspended for over loading. The suspension ranges between a month to three months depending upon the violation of rules,” he said.
Officials said the RTA authorities first issue show cause notice through registered post to the motorist seeking his or her explanation why driving licence should be not suspended. About 10 days time is given to explain. The motorist can explain in writing or meet the RTO in person. The RTO will take a call on suspension of the licence depending upon the reply. Even if the candidate does not accept the notice, the RTO has the power to cancel the licence the details of which are given to traffic police and other agencies.
The motorist has to surrender driving licence to RTO after which he or she will be given a proceeding copy that the licence has been suspended for so many days. The motorist can serve the suspension during which he or she should not drive the vehicle and if found driving, they are liable to be sent to jail, or they can challenge the RTO decision in the court.
