Riding a bike is a quick and convenient way to commute, especially in larger cities congested with traffic. However, to ensure that you do your bit to maintain safety on public roads, you must follow traffic rules and regulations for bikes. This article will inform you of the various traffic rules you should adhere to as a two–wheeler rider.

Earlier, all riders had to follow bike traffic rules listed under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. However, the Government of India amended the Act in 2019 to reduce accidents and ensure the safety of road users. The amendments take traffic violations seriously and impose heavier fines than the law did before. The bike traffic rules that you must follow as per the new law are as follows:

• Drunk driving: As per this law, you are prohibited from riding your two–wheeler if you are under the influence of alcohol. If a traffic officer catches you riding with more than 30mg of alcohol under 100ml of blood, they can arrest you without a warrant.

• Driving dangerously or while using phones: You are not allowed to drive your two–wheeler recklessly on the roads. Plus, you cannot use your phone while riding your bike as per the law.

• Over speeding: In India, every road has a speeding limit that you must follow. If you drive beyond the speed limit, you violate bike road rules.

• Speeding and racing: As a bike rider, you are not permitted to speed or race on the roads as per the law.

• Invalid driving license: You cannot ride a bike without having a valid driving license. The license must not be expired and should allow you to ride the kind of motorcycle you are driving.

• Juvenile driving: The new amendments have introduced a category of juvenile driving that does not allow individuals below the age of 16 years to drive a gearless motorcycle and those below 18 years to drive a geared motorcycle.

• Mandatory insurance: According to the law in India, all riders should have third–party two–wheeler insurance. Not having valid third–party bike insurance for your vehicle is a violation of the law.

• Helmet: To abide by the traffic laws in India, you must ride your bike only after wearing a helmet.

• Disqualified driver: If you have been disqualified from driving a two–wheeler, you cannot ride without violating the law.

• Making way for ambulances: if you do not give way for an ambulance, as per law, you are considered to be committing a punishable offence.

• Overloading of pillion riders: As per the new amendments, only two people can ride a motorcycle. Thus, if you overload pillion riders on your bike, it is considered an offence.

• Traffic lights: The law does not permit you to jump traffic signals while riding your bike.

Now that you know more about the bike driving rules in India make sure to abide by the same and ride your two wheelers safely!