Ahmedabad sees spike in challans for traffic violations, dip in road accidents
In 2024, the Traffic Department issued 11,79,720 lakh challans for three primary violations, including riding without helmets, overspeeding and driving on the wrong side of the road, according to the official data shared. In 2023, the number of challans for these three violations stood at 66,343, according to the data shared by the Traffic Department.
These three offences alone account for a majority of the daily road safety risks, especially among two-wheeler users, said officers familiar with the matter.
The sharp surge in the issuance of challans in 2024 compared to the 2023 figures, particularly for these violations, according to the Traffic Department officers, seems to have yielded tangible safety outcomes.
The penalty for not wearing helmets is Rs 500; for faulty driving, it is Rs 1,500 for two- and three-wheelers; Rs 3,000 for light motor vehicles (LMVs) and Rs 5,000 for heavy motor vehicles (HMVs), and for overspeeding, it is Rs 1,500 for two- and three-wheelers; Rs 2,000 for LMVs, and Rs 4,000 for HMVs.
According to the Traffic Department officials, over 10 lakh challans were issued in 2024 alone to commuters riding without helmets, as against 12,528 issued in 2023.
Similarly, 67,015 challans were issued for faulty driving in 2024 compared to 7,502 challans in 2023, according to the data.
For overspeeding, 1,06,633 challans were issued in 2024 compared to 46,316 challans in 2023.
This clampdown on traffic violations by the Department had led to 22.5% decrease in fatal accidents and 23.3% decrease in minor accidents. In 2023, 535 deaths due to traffic accidents were recorded while the number stood at 411 in 2024.
Senior officers from the Traffic Department attributed this shift to 'increased surveillance', particularly the use of automated systems like e-cameras and digital monitoring. These tools have enabled authorities to issue memos more effectively, holding violators accountable even when no officer is present on the ground, said an officer on the condition of anonymity.
'We always urge the citizens to follow the traffic rules and help keep both their own life and the lives of others safe,' said the Deputy Commissioner of Police,Traffic (Admin), Ahmedabad City Baldevsinh Vaghela.
'Moving forward, the traffic department plans to strengthen its monitoring systems while continuing its ongoing awareness programmes on traffic rules in schools, colleges, and local communities,' the DCP told The Indian Express. 'With such measures in place, the department hopes to further reduce road fatalities and traffic violations in the city', the DCP added.
(Jay Jani is an intern with The Indian Express, Ahmedabad)
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