Traffic fines double on Dec 31

VIOLATION Prosecutions went up from 6,486 on Dec 31, 2015 to 13,260 in 2016

NEW DELHI: The traffic violations on the New Year’s Eve doubled, with the total number of prosecutions going up from 6,486 on December 31 in 2015 to 13,260 in 2016.

Delhi Traffic Police conducted an overnight drive on Saturday night. Apart from the fines under the Motor Vehicle Act (1988), many drivers also lost their driving licences for at least three wmonths under the Supreme Court order.

Traffic police said of the total 13,260 challans this time, the maximum were issued for riding a two-wheeler without a helmet. Data shared by the police showed that 4,022 traffic tickets were issued to two-wheeler riders and pillions for not wearing helmets, as compared to just 730 last year.

Figures for improper lane driving soared from 148 last year to 789 this year. For riding triple too, the police fined 414 riders, whereas in the previous year no challans were issued.

Other violations, including drunk driving and dangerous driving saw marginal variations. In December 2015, 887 drunk drivers were held, and in 2016, 889 drivers were caught driving in an inebriated state. This time 492, instead of 484 drivers were also booked for driving dangerously.

However, the challans for speeding saw a dip from 335 in 2015 to 78 in 2016.

Traffic officials said that all the party hubs were targeted to ensure that the roads are safe for commuters. “The aim was to make the roads safe for the New Year,” said joint commissioner of police (traffic) Garima Bhatnagar.

More than 2,423 traffic officials were deployed for the special drive and 13 cameras, 11 interceptors, and 149 alcometers were used for the drive.