Motor Vehciles Act, 1988 -CHAPTER VIII CONTROL OF TRAFFIC- Sections 116 to 121- Kerala R.T.O.

CHAPTER VIII 

CONTROL OF TRAFFIC. 

116. Power to erect traffic signs,-(1) (a) The State Government or any authority authorized in this behalf be the State Government may cause or permit traffic signs to be placed or erected in any public place for the purpose of bringing to public notice any speed limit fixed under sub-section (2) of section 112 or any prohibitions or restrictions imposed under section 115 or generally for the purpose of regulating motor vehicle traffic,

  (b) A State Government or any authority authorized in this behalf by the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette or by the erection at suitable places of the appropriate traffic signs referred to in part A of the Schedule, designate certain roads as main roads for the purpose of the driving regulations made by the Central Government.

 (2) Traffic signs placed or erected under sub-section (1) for any purpose for which provision is made in the Schedule shall be of the size ,color and type and shall have the meanings set forth in the Schedule, but the State Government or any authority empowered in this behalf by the State Government  may make or authorize the addition to any sign set forth in the said Schedule, of transcriptions of the words, letters or figures thereon in such script as the State Government may think fit, provided that the transcriptions of the words, letters of figures thereon in such script as the State Government may think fit, provided that the transcriptions shall be of similar size and color to the words, letters or figures set forth in the Schedule.

  (3) Except as provided by sub-section (1), no traffic sign shall, after the commencement of this Act, be placed or erected on or near any road; but all traffic signs placed or erected prior to the commencement of this Act be deemed to be traffic signs placed or erected under the provisions of sub-section(1);

 

 (4) A State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, empower any police officer not below the rank of a Superintendent of Police to remove or cause to be removed any sign or advertisement which is so placed in his opinion as to obscure any traffic sign from view or any sign or advertisement which is in his opinion  so similar in appearance to a traffic sigh as to be misleading or which in his opinion is likely to distract the attention or concentration of the driver.

  (5) No person shall willfully remove, alter, deface, or in any way tamper with any traffic signs placed or erected under this section.

  (6) If any person accidentally causes such  damage to a traffic sign as renders it useless for the propose for which it is placed or erected under this section, he shall report  the circumstances of the occurrence to a police officer or at a police station as soon as possible, and in any case within twenty four hours of the occurrence.

  (7) For the purpose of bringing the signs set forth in the First Schedule in conformity with International Convention relating to  motor traffic to which the Central Government is for the time being  a party, the Central Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, made any addition or alteration to  any such sign and on the issue on any such notification the
First Schedule shall be deemed to be amended accordingly.

117. Parking places and halting stations,- The State Government or any authority authorized in this behalf by the State Government may, in consultation with the local authority having jurisdiction in any area concerned determine  the place at which public service vehicles may stop for a longer time than is necessary for the taking up and setting down of passengers.

118. Driving regulations,- The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations for the driving of motor vehicles.

119. Duty to obey traffic sings,- (1) Every driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle in conformity with any indication given by mandatory traffic sign and in conformity with driving regulations made by the Central Government, and shall comply with all directions given to him by any police officer for the time being engaged in the regulation of traffic in any public place.

(2) In this section “mandatory traffic sign” means a traffic sign included in part A of the First Schedule or any traffic sign of similar form that is to say, consisting of or including a circular disc displaying a device, word or figures and having a red ground or border placed or erectd  for the purpose of regulating motor vehicle traffic under sub-section (1) of section 116.

120. Vehicles with left hand control,- No person shall drive or cause to or allow to be driven in any public place any motor vehicle with a left hand steering control unless it is equipped with a mechanical or electrical signaling device or a prescribed nature and in working order.

121. Signals and signaling devices,- The  driver of a motor vehicle shall make such signals and in such occasions as may be presecribed by the Central Government.

Provided that the  signal of an intention to the right or left or to stop-

(a)  in the case of a motor vehicle with a right hand steering control, may be given by a mechanical or electrical device of a prescribed nature affixed to the vehicle;  and

(b) in the case of a motor vehicle with a left hand steering control, shall be given by a mechanical or electrical device of a prescribed nature affixed to the vehicle:

Provided further that the State Government may, having regard to the width and condition of of the roads in  any area or route, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt subject to such conditions as may be specified therein any motor vehicle or class or description of motor vehicles from the operation of this section for the purpose of plying in that area or route.

122. Leaving vehicle in dangerous position,- No person in charge of a motor vehicle shall cause or allow the vehicle or trailer to be abandoned or remain at rest on any public place in such a position or in any public place in such a position or in such a condition or in such circumstances as to cause or likely to cause danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience to other users of the public place or to the passengers.

123. Riding on running board, etc,- (1) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall carry any person or permit any person t be carried in the running board or otherwise than within the body of the vehicle .
 (2) No person shall travel on the running board or on the top or on the bonnet of a motor vehicle.

124. Prohibition against travelling without pass or ticket,- No person shall enter or remain in any stage carriage for the purpose of travelling therein unless he has with him a proper pass or ticket.
  Provided that where arrangements for the supply of tickets are made in the stage carriage by which a person has to travel, a person may enter such stage carriage but as soon as may be after his entry therein, he shall make the payment of his fares to the conductor or driver who performs the functions of a conductor and obtain from such conductor or driver as the case may be , a ticket for his journey.