Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Dec 24: In the preceding year, rural Kashmir witnessed a significant surge in traffic violations, painting a grim picture as the Traffic Police issued an alarming 390,100 challans for various offences.
The comprehensive data, spanning from January to December 20, 2023, covering nine revenue districts and five police districts in Kashmir, encapsulating the entire Valley except Srinagar city, underscores a concerning trend. The reported violations encompass National Highway 44 from the Navyug Tunnel to the Zero Point in Zojilla Sonmarg and the Mughal Road etcetera.
As per figures from the traffic police, 2,346 challans were issued for dangerous driving or overspeeding, indicating a troubling prevalence of reckless driving on the valley’s roads. For overloading, an astonishing 131,550 challans were recorded, emphasizing a blatant disregard for safety regulations.
With 10,737 challans issued for individuals neglecting to wear seatbelts and 45,500 challans for those without crash helmets, the data also highlighted the severe risks to motorcyclists. Instances of wrong parking led to 36,900 challans, suggesting a lack of discipline among drivers, while 7,730 challans were issued for vehicles lacking High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP), raising questions about compliance with registration norms.
The figures further revealed that disregarding traffic signals resulted in 560 challans, with a significant 38,500 challans issued for failure to adhere to traffic signals, indicating a systemic issue of non-compliance. Police also handed out 3,758 challans for failure to comply with signals from police officers regulating traffic, reflecting a concerning lack of respect for authority.
The data also highlighted the persistent problem of distracted driving, with 620 challans issued for mobile phone usage while driving. Authorities also addressed the dangerous practice of triple riding on motorcycles, issuing 3,035 challans, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of safety measures. Instances of misbehaviour led to 59 challans, underscoring the necessity for a more respectful and responsible driving culture. To curb these violations, authorities seized 2,416 vehicles, signalling a robust enforcement effort.
As 2023 concludes, authorities face increased pressure to reassess and strengthen enforcement measures, educate drivers, and implement stricter penalties.
Senior Superintendent of Kashmir Traffic for rural Kashmir, R P Singh, underscored the implementation of proactive measures and a zero-tolerance policy against traffic violations in the upcoming year. He urged drivers to possess all necessary paperwork and refrain from overloading vehicles.
Singh emphasised the importance of compliance with rules and regulations to minimise accident fatalities. “We want everyone to follow rules and regulations so that accidents and fatalities are minimized. The drivers should ensure they possess all the necessary documents before moving on the road to avoid being penalized,” he said.
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