Section119
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

Duty to obey traffic signs

In force From 01 Jul 1989 Act 59 of 1988 As on 15 Oct 2026

Act 59 of 1988 Ministry Road Transport and Highways Enacted 14 Oct 1988 In force 01 Jul 1989

Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with duty to obey traffic signs. Every driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle in conformity with any indication given by mandatory traffic sign and in conformity with the 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 The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.

(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 the 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 Schedule, or any traffic sign of similar form (that is to say, consisting of or including a circular disc diplaying a device, word or figure and having a red ground or border) placed or erected for the purpose of regulating motor vehicle traffic under sub-section (1) of section 116.

Section 119, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Questions about Section 119

What does Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act deal with?

Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act is headed "Duty to obey traffic signs". Every driver of a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle in conformity with any indication given by mandatory traffic sign and in conformity with the 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

How do I find court cases under Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 119, section 119 MV Act, section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 116 (Power to erect traffic signs), so none of them can safely be read on its own.

When did Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?

Section 119 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 119, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.