No, driving with interior lights on is not explicitly prohibited under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, but it violates Rule 109 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which mandates that lights must not distract other road users. State enforcement agencies, including Delhi Traffic Police and Mumbai Traffic Branch, interpret this as a safety hazard under Section 112 of the MV Act. Recent 2026 draft amendments propose stricter penalties, including fines up to ₹5,000, for non-compliance.
Key Regulations for Driving With Interior Lights On in India
- Rule 109(3) of CMVR, 1989: Interior lights must not impair visibility or distract drivers, aligning with the “safe driving” mandate under Section 112 of the MV Act.
- State Enforcement Circulars: Agencies like the Tamil Nadu Traffic Police and Karnataka State Road Transport Authority issue advisories treating interior lights as a “distraction offense” under local traffic rules.
- 2026 Draft Amendments: Proposed amendments to the CMVR seek to codify interior light restrictions, with penalties escalating to ₹5,000 for repeat offenses, pending parliamentary approval.
Violations are typically addressed under “dangerous driving” or “obstruction to vision” clauses, with discretion left to traffic officers. Courts have upheld penalties where interior lights were deemed to reduce peripheral vision or cause glare to oncoming drivers.