The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 is a legislative act that significantly reformed the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which governs all aspects of road transport in India. The Act was passed by the Lok Sabha on July 23, 2019, and by the Rajya Sabha on July 31, 2019, with the primary objective of improving road safety and addressing the high rate of road accident fatalities in the country.
The Act works by introducing stringent measures and enhancing penalties for traffic violations, with fines for various offenses increased by up to ten times. Key provisions include the mandatory constitution of a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund by the Central Government to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users. It also mandates a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during the "golden hour"—the one-hour period following a traumatic injury. Compensation for hit-and-run cases was substantially increased, with the minimum compensation for death rising from ₹25,000 to ₹2 lakh and for grievous injury from ₹12,500 to ₹50,000.
The amendment also introduced the legal protection of Good Samaritans, shielding those who assist accident victims from civil or criminal liability for their actions. Furthermore, it introduced provisions for the recall of motor vehicles by the Central Government if a defect poses a risk to the environment or road users. The Act connects to concepts of e-governance by facilitating online issuance of learner's licenses and establishing national registers for driving licenses and vehicle registration. It also provides for the establishment of a National Road Safety Board to advise on traffic management and road safety.