There has been a huge increase in turnover income
After the amended provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Act came into effect from September 2019, the penalty for violating traffic and transport rules was increased manifold. Data provided in the Lok Sabha by the Road Transport Ministry shows that the revenue collected for such offenses through e-challan between September 2019 and February 2023 has increased to Rs. 7,870 crore has been reached.
In the last three and a half years in Delhi, the revenue from fines collected from traffic has increased to Rs. 511 crores, which in the period before the new MV Act was Rs. 65 crore was around. On the other hand in Maharashtra, the revenue from such fines is only Rs. 11 crore to Rs. 603 crore has been done. In the case of Haryana, the revenue collected in fines has also tripled from Rs 330 crore to Rs 997 crore.
Number of accidents reduced due to covid
However, an analysis of road death data shows that the average number of deaths per month during 2019-21 was 12,138 compared to 12,500 deaths during 2016-19. The government has not yet released the road accident statistics for 2022. It should also be kept in mind that the number of road accident deaths in 2020 was the lowest at 1.32 lakh, mainly due to months of restrictions on vehicular movement due to Covid.
Better and scientific enforcement of rules is key to reducing road accidents and casualties, rather than focusing on currency and fines, experts said.
Taking notes on the driver’s behavior
The purpose of traffic enforcement is to improve driver behavior. They do strategic enforcement where they ensure that as the incidence of such violations increases, the learned driver’s behavior also improves. Not only this, it is also discussed whether death and injuries in road accidents are reduced or not.
Focus on police patrols
Navdeep Asija, Traffic Adviser to Punjab Government also said that proper planning of traffic rules and policing should be done. Challan should be given more in areas where the number of road accidents is high. Not only this, road accidents continue to increase from 3 pm to 9 pm, due to this, attention should also be paid to movement and police patrolling.