NAGPUR: Two-wheeler riders are the most infamous lot for violating traffic rules in the city. Of the 5.83 lakh violators involved in 13 different violations in 2021, two-wheeler riders account for 3.10 lakh
cases. Four-wheeler drivers were involved in 46,157 violations analysed by city traffic police. Traffic
police revealed this data to activist Abhay
Kolarkar under an
RTI query.
Though traffic police did not maintain category-wise violations, the RTI revealed that 2,95,521 helmet-less two-wheeler riders paid over Rs2.33 crore fine. Similarly, traffic police recovered over Rs15.22 lakh fine from 14,544 two-wheeler riders, while 46,157 four-wheeler drivers paid over Rs69.89 lakh fine for driving without seat belts.
Traffic police booked 22,158 people for over-speeding and 16,724 for dangerous driving and recovered Rs49.73 lakh and Rs49.62 lakh fine respectively from them.
The data also pinpoints unruly autorickshaws on city roads. As per the RTI reply, 26,138 autorickshaw drivers were penalized for various violations like driving without meter, uniforms and badge. Traffic police have also recovered Rs31.72 lakh fine from the three-wheeler drivers.
The data revealed that action against traffic violators has increased manifold in the last three calendar years. In 2019, traffic police recovered Rs8.49 crore from 4,55,402 violators. In 2020, 7,33,234 violators paid over Rs11.12 crore as fine and over 9.74 lakh violators paid Rs12.56 crore in 2021.
Despite intensifying action against heavy vehicles entering city limits, the city police are facing a challenge to curb the menace. In 2019, traffic police had penalized 4,799 trucks, 10,951 in 2020 and in 2021, it recorded 24,611 challans.
Kolarkar pointed out that the increase in violations should have improved city traffic, but that has not been the case.
Citizens should also extend cooperation to traffic police by following all motor vehicle rules.