Motor Vehicles Act, 1988
Section 194E — Failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles
Written and checked byManju Shekhar· Motor Law & Compliance· Updated 10 October 2026
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988) · inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019
Text as inserted in 2019
Whoever while driving a motor vehicle fails to draw to the side of the road, on the approach of a fire service vehicle or of an ambulance or other emergency vehicle as may be specified by the State Government, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine of ten thousand rupees or with both.
Amended by the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 — in force from 15 August 2026
(ZJ) In section 194E, for the words “shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine of ten thousand rupees or with both”, the words “shall be liable for penalty of ten thousand rupees for first offence and shall be punishable for any second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both” shall be substituted.
Amending instruction from the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (No. 8 of 2026), Schedule entry 51, quoted verbatim. It took effect for the Motor Vehicles Act on 15 August 2026 under S.O. 4100(E), 24 July 2026. Where it conflicts with the text above, this later change prevails.
Before you rely on this. The base text above is the Act as consolidated by the India Code, which predates the 2019 amendment; 2019 and 2026 changes are shown separately rather than merged in. Later amendments may also apply. For anything official, read the current text on the e-Gazette or the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways site.
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