Over 10 lakh Mumbai traffic violators fined in first 6 months of 2013

Despite the many awareness campaigns carried out to ensure better road safety, traffic violations in the year 2013 (up until June) have increased substantially. According to figures provided by the traffic department, the number has increased from 7,22,275 in the first six months of last year to 10,64,560, marking an increase of roughly 3.42 lakh.

Stop there: Traffic authorities have become more vigilant this year, and are carrying out more drives to avoid lane cutting, rash driving and other violations. File pic

Traffic officials say the number of cases has increased because of the continual drives they have been carrying out to penalise offenders. Vivek Phansalkar, commissioner of police (traffic), said, "One of the reasons for the increase in the number of cases this year may be that now even constables have the right to penalise people. Additionally, we carry out drives more often now, causing the number of offenders caught to increase." Figures show that the number of rash driving cases has risen from 187 in January 2012 to 337 in January 2013.

However, experts say it's not just the increase in drives that has caused the spike; the city's infrastructure is not keeping pace with the boom in population. "There is extreme congestion that limits the number of road accidents of which many are fatal. The number of vehicles has also increased," said Jitendra Gupta, transport expert.

10,64,560
Number of traffic violators penalised from January to June this year

Rs11,94,18,450
Amount of fines collected by the traffic authorities between January and June in 2013

7, 22,275
Number of traffic violators penalised from January to June in 2012

Rs 8,87,39,505
Amount of fines collected by the traffic authorities between January and June in 2012

1,47,403
Number of traffic violators penalised in June 2013

Rs1,64,51,900
Amount collected in fines by the traffic authorities in June 2013

1,10,932
Number of traffic violators penalised in June 2012

Rs1,26,59,000
Amount collected as fines by the traffic authorities in June 2012u00a0