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MVA 1988 (Amended 2019)ORIGINALChapter V
Section 123
Riding on Running Board, etc.
Control of Traffic
Fine: ₹500Compoundable: YesEndorsement: No
BARE ACT PROVISION
Legal Text
No person shall travel in or on a motor vehicle in any public place in such a manner as to cause danger to himself or to others or in contravention of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder — and no owner or driver of a motor vehicle shall cause or allow any person to travel in or on such vehicle in contravention of the said provisions.
Simplified Explanation
Section 123 addresses a common safety violation in India — travelling on the exterior of vehicles, on running boards, hanging from doors, or standing in goods vehicles. The provision imposes dual liability: on the passenger who travels dangerously and on the driver/owner who causes or allows it. Common violations: labourers standing in the back of trucks; students hanging off bus doors; goods carriers with workers riding on top of loaded cargo. These practices contribute significantly to accident fatalities — particularly for workers who fall from goods vehicles. In accident compensation cases under Chapter VIII, contributory negligence of a passenger who was travelling dangerously may reduce their compensation under MACT.
Historical Context
The practice of workers riding in the open backs of trucks and labourers standing on running boards has been a persistent safety challenge in rural and semi-urban India, particularly for agricultural and construction labour transportation.Practical Scenarios
"Construction workers standing in the back of a truck on a highway — Section 123 violation."
"Passengers hanging off the footboard of a crowded DTC bus — Section 123 violation."
Common Queries
No — Section 123 prohibits travelling in any manner causing danger. Workers riding in open goods carriers (like truck beds) without proper seating or enclosure is a violation. Many fatal accidents involving farm workers and construction labourers result from violations of Section 123.