Driving dangerously
Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with driving dangerously. First offence: Imprisonment up to one year, or a fine of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, or both. Whoever, drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public [or which causes a sense of alarm or distress to the occupants of the vehicle,other road users, and persons near roads,] having regard to all the circumstances of case including the nature, condition and use o The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
Whoever, drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public 1[or which causes a sense of alarm or distress to the occupants of the vehicle,other road users, and persons near roads,] having regard to all the circumstances of case including the nature, condition and use of the place where the vehicle is driven and the amount of traffic which actually is at the time or which might reasonably be expected to be in the place, shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term 2[which may extend to one year but shall not be less than six months or with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees but may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both], and for any second or subsequent offence if committed within three years of the commission of a previous similar offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine 3[of ten thousand rupees], or with both.
4[Explanation.-- For the purpose of this section,--
(a) jumping a red light;
(b) violating a stop sign;
(c) use of handheld communications devices while driving;
(d) passing or overtaking other vehicles in a manner contrary to law;
(e) driving against the authorised flow of traffic; or
(f) driving in any manner that falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver and where it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that manner would be dangerous, shall amount to driving in such manner which is dangerous to the public.]
Section 184, 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.
Referred to by 9
- s. 20 Power of Court to disqualify
- s. 21 Suspension of driving licence in certain cases
- s. 22 Suspension or cancellation of driving licence on conviction
- s. 132 Duty of driver to stop in certain cases
- s. 188 Punishment for abetment of certain offences
- s. 200 Composition of certain offences
- s. 202 Power to arrest without warrant
- s. 206 Power of police officer to impound document
- s. 209 Restriction on conviction
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A prosecution, if otherwise maintainable, would lie both under the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, since both the statutes operate with full vigour in their own independent spheres. The offences provided under both the statutes are separate and distinct from each other, and an offender can be tried and punished independently under both statutes. The principle that the special law should prevail over the general law has no application in cases of prosecution of offenders in road accidents under the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act, as the offences do not overlap. Section 26 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 permits prosecution under either or both enactments but prevents double punishment for the same offence.
On this section: Offence of driving dangerously; provides for imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs. 1000 for first offence, and up to 2 years or Rs. 2000 for subsequent offences
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State of Arunachal Pradesh v. Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Companion appeal decided with State of Tripura v. Ramchandra Rabidas: IPC and MV Act offences for road accidents operate in independent spheres; dual prosecution is maintainable where offences do not overlap; s.26 GCA bars double punishment not double prosecution.
On this section: Same reportable judgment as Tripura companion — MV s.184 dangerous-driving sphere vs IPC
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Vaibhav Arun Ukharde vs Anil Bhaskar Nikam
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Functional disability must be assessed based on the nature of the claimant's work; for a manual laborer or driver, a leg amputation above the knee constitutes 100% loss of earning capacity.
On this section: Driving dangerously.
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THE GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT vs VICKY VAJUBHAI BAREJIYA
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Investigation conducted by the police into non-cognizable offences without the prior permission of the jurisdictional Magistrate under Section 155(2) CrPC is illegal and void, rendering the court unable to take cognizance of the resulting chargesheet.
On this section: Discussion on whether power to arrest under Section 202 renders the offence cognizable.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… In the investigation it is said to have been revealed that the accused rode the motorbike after consuming liquor and therefore a report was submitted before Court for altering the provision in the First Information Report from motor occurrence to Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. There were no offences charged under the Indian Penal Code against the accused. In fact, the Tribunal also noticed that the appellant who claimed to have ridden pillion in the bike was the person who gave the F.I.Statement at the first instance. In the F.I.Statement the recital …
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… that the accident had occurred due to sole negligence on the part of the driver of the offending vehicle and the jurisdictional police have registered FIR in Crime No.312 of 2012 against the driver of the offending Tata 909 vehicle for the offences punishable under Section 304(A) of Indian Penal Code read with Section 184 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The claimants further stated that the deceased was working as Vice President at Wall Street sister concern viz. M/s. Bates India Private Limited and deceased was drawing salary of Rs.25,00,000/- per annum and due to the untimely death of the deceased, the claimants are undergoing mental …
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… It is worthwhile to have a peep in to the facts and figures as given in the statement, which is extracted below: - "(a)Crime No.626/2009 Vaikom Police Station Sections 392, 353 r/w of Indian Penal Code and Sections 128, 184, 188 of Motor Vehicles Act - the petitioner was convicted and released under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act. - (b) Crime No.724/2011 of Vaikom Police Station offences punishable under Sections 341, 323 r/w 34 of Indian Penal Code - offences compounded on 20.01.2012 under Section 320(8) of the code of …
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 184
What have the courts held on Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas (04 Oct 2019) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Offence of driving dangerously; provides for imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs. 1000 for first offence, and up to 2 years or Rs. 2000 for subsequent offences. Another 3 judgments on this section are set out below, 2 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2019 to 2024.
How do I find court cases under Section 184 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 184, section 184 MV Act, section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 4 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with The State of Tripura Home Department Chief Secretary vs Ramchandra Rabidas @ Ratan Rabidas (04 Oct 2019).
What should I read with Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
9 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently 17th GSR 575 (E) 11 August 2021 (2021).
When did Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 184, 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
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
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.