Reuters AlertNet Lite - Smoking while driving banned in Indian capital

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Smoking while driving banned in Indian capital

26 Mar 2007 13:48:24 GMT
Source: Reuters

NEW DELHI, March 26 (Reuters) - Smoking while driving was banned in the Indian capital on Monday in an attempt to reduce the hundreds of deaths from road accidents in the city annually.

The Delhi High Court ruled that those caught smoking behind the wheel will be fined 500 rupees ($10).

Almost two thousand people are killed on the city's roads with over eight thousand accidents every year, according to the Delhi Traffic Police.

The court also ruled that public transport drivers -- including state-run buses and taxis -- must have completed a minimum of 12 years of education at school, rather than just 10 years, and that they wear name badges at all times.

Extra-loud car horns and musical horns were also banned from the capital's noisy roads.

Road rules are routinely flouted in New Delhi, which has close to three million vehicles, with drivers often skipping red lights and swerving across lanes.

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Last updated:Mon Mar 26 13:52:45 2007