Short Description
Over the past five years, India has collected over Rs 12,632 crore in traffic rule violation fines, underlining the impact of stricter enforcement and the Motor Vehicle Act amendment.
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3 minutes 15 seconds
Main Article
In a significant push towards safer roads, thirty-one states and Union Territories (UTs) in India amassed a staggering Rs 12,632 crore in traffic rule violation fines between 2019 and 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Road Transport in a recent Lok Sabha session. This extensive collection highlights the growing emphasis on road safety and compliance with traffic regulations following the amendment of the Motor Vehicle Act in 2019, which substantially increased penalties for violations. The data revealed that a remarkable 18.2 crore e-challans were issued during this period, indicating a robust enforcement mechanism utilizing technology.
Uttar Pradesh led the way with the highest fine collection of Rs 2,495 crore, closely followed by Haryana at Rs 1,465 crore and Bihar at Rs 1,404 crore. Despite its large population, Andhra Pradesh surprisingly lagged behind, generating just Rs 77.5 lakh in fines, significantly less than smaller states like Mizoram, which collected Rs 1.4 crore. This inconsistency raises questions about enforcement practices and public awareness of traffic regulations in various states. Notably, Tamil Nadu saw the largest number of e-challans issued, with around 5.6 crore notices related to traffic violations, accumulating Rs 755 crore in fines.
In terms of vehicle registration, approximately 38.5 crore vehicles are recorded across the country, with 17.5 crore insured. Valid driving licenses numbered around 18.2 crore, with nearly 95.8 lakh learner licenses also registered. Despite the mandatory pollution checks, only about 5.3 crore vehicles hold valid PUC documents, reflective of the ongoing challenges in ensuring environmental compliance amidst rising vehicle numbers. Furthermore, only 10.7 lakh of the 2.2 crore transport vehicles are equipped with Speed Limiting Devices, pointing to an area for potential policy enhancement to improve overall road safety.
Short Summary
In summary, from 2019 to 2024, India collected over Rs 12,632 crore in traffic fines, showcasing the effectiveness of the Motor Vehicle Act amendment. The data also underscores the need for improved enforcement and public awareness across different states to enhance road safety.
