Dangerous Driving

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If you drive a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public, or which causes a sense of alarm or distress to the occupants of the car, other road users and persons near the road, it is known as dangerous driving¹. Listed below are some instances of dangerous driving:

Jumping a red light.
Violating a stop sign.
Using any handheld communication devices, like mobile phones, while driving.
Passing or overtaking other vehicles unlawfully.
Driving against the flow of the traffic, such as driving on the wrong side.

If you drive dangerously, you will face jail time between six months to a year, or a fine between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000, or both, for the first offence. For every subsequent offence, if committed within three years, you will be punished with jail time of up to 2 years, or a fine of Rs. 10,000, or both¹. The applicable fine amount might vary across states.

Given below are the fine amounts for two states:

State	Frequency of Offence	Fine Amount (In INR)
Delhi	First Offence	1,000 – 5,000
Delhi	Any Subsequent Offence	10,000
Karnataka	First offence	1,000 – 5,000 (Not including the fine for the use of handheld communication devices while driving)
Karnataka	Any Subsequent Offence	10,000

Section 184, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. [↩] [↩]

Comments

Rakhi k

February 25, 2025

While driving on highway and without dashcam i cannot prove only with a picture that this driver who was driving recklessly and tried to create an accident on high speed highway.
Truly discouraging when I tried reporting
Without video I have no right to register a complaint

Nyaaya

June 30, 2025

While video footage helps, it’s not legally required to file a complaint. You can lodge a complaint with the Traffic Police or RTO, giving details like the vehicle number, date, time, location, and a written description of what happened. If you took a photo of the vehicle and can describe the incident clearly, it can still be used as evidence. You can also call 100 or the Traffic Police helpline at the time of the incident. If the authorities refuse to act, you can escalate the issue by filing a complaint with the SP or DCP of traffic, or even send a written complaint to the State Transport Department. Your report may prompt them to monitor or issue a notice to the vehicle owner. Reckless driving is a punishable offence under the Motor Vehicles Act, and your right to report is protected, regardless of whether you have video proof or not.

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