The draft of a new law for roads has received the government’s final approval with provisions of a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a half a million taka fine for deaths in road accident

However, offenders can be tried under Penal Code provisions carrying death sentences as the maximum punishment in case of a road accident is found to be deliberate or intentional.

“In cases of offences related to accidents, the draft law says that, regardless of the law, if people are gravely injured or killed in a road accident accident, it will be considered under the penal code’s sections 302 or 304,” Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told the media after Monday’s cabinet meeting.

The final go-ahead from the government comes amid student protests demanding safer roads and capital punishment for drivers over deaths in road accidents.

Salient features of the proposed law include

>>The law proposes trial under the Penal Code’s Section 302, which stipulates death sentence for murder, in case of a road accident is found to be deliberate act to kill someone.

>>In case of deaths by reckless driving, offenders will be tried under the proposed Act’s Section 103, which stipulates a maximum penalty of five years in jail

>> To obtain a driving licence, an individual has to clear at least eighth grade. The existing law does not provide for any educational qualifications.

>> The minimum age for a driver's license remains at 18 years while for professional drivers it's 21 years.

>> The law makes licences for drivers' assistants mandatory. Those seeking licences, have to clear fifth grade.

>> A driver’s licence will be assigned a total of 12 points, which will be subtracted depending on particular offences. For instance, the new law proposes deducting 1 point for speeding. A zero-point will lead to cancellation of the licence.

>> The law introduces a provision where authorities will be able to limit the number of vehicles plying in a city or locality.

>> Using mobile phones while driving will result to a month in jail or Tk 5,000 fine.

>> Driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics will result in up to three months in jail or Tk 35,000 fine or both.

>> The new law will allow police to make arrests without warrants in offences which can cause a six-month jail sentence or Tk 50,000 fine.

>> Penalties for unfit vehicles plying on the roads have been doubled a year in jail or up to Tk 100,000 in fine.

>> Passengers wrongly occupying seats reserved for women, children, elderly and handicapped people on public transports will face a month in jail or Tk 5,000 in fines.

>> Offences like driving on the wrong lane, obstructing traffic movement, transporting goods and passengers on the roof, carrying more than one pillion rider on motorcycles and riding without helmets as well as riding on the footpaths will cause up to three months in jail or Tk 35,000 fine or both.