CHENNAI: The law mandates punishment for repeat traffic offenders, but government data shows this is not being done in Chennai. Police book violators, but transport department red tapism allows them to go scot-free.
The city, where 150-200 road crashes are reported every month, has the dubious distinction of being the country’s road accident capital. The Supreme Court committee on road safety has repeatedly told Tamil Nadu not to go soft on traffic violations and Greater Chennai traffic Police (GCTP) claimed to have booked more cases against those committing serious traffic offences like driving while drunk, using mobile phones, signal jumping, over-speeding and not wearing safety gear (helmet/seat belt).
In the last three months, police registered more than three lakh cases, roughly 40% more compared to the same period last year. Of the three lakh cases, police recommended suspension of 3,187 driving licences for repeat offences. But the state transport department, authorised to suspend a licence through the Union government’s VAHAN portal, has not acted on any of these recommendations. The situation is no different in neighbouring Kancheepuram and Chengalpet. TN transport commissioner S Natarajan promised to respond, but there is no official word.
Not just suspension of driving licences, even the number of traffic challans pending are on the rise in Chennai. After police book a case and generate a challan, the vehicle owner/driver can pay fines directly through cash and collect a receipt or pay online later. But more than 75% of them haven't paid fine till date.
The traffic police, in response, say they plan to establish a dedicated call centre and send reminder text messages to the offenders’ mobile numbers soon. “Courts have said drunk drivers are like ‘suicidal human bombs’ and authorities should ideally show no leniency in seizing their vehicles and suspending licences. But here police and other department officials are keen on collecting bribes. So, they end up showing some numbers at the end of every year,” said Mohammed Ghouse, an RTI-activist who exposed discrepancies in fine amounts collected for such offences.
Rama Rao of Chennai-based traffic and Transportation Forum said TN was yet to adopt the steep fines recommended by the New Motor Vehicle Act, 2019 (except for drunken driving) and there is an urgent need for TN to review this. This is why TN ranks fifth in the country in terms of fines raised through e-challans for traffic violations even after booking the most cases since 2019. It has since issuing 2. 37 crore e-challans and collected ₹140. 9 crore in fines.
Police fine traffic offenders, but none’s checking if they pay up.
