Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is planning stricter action against the manufacture and sale of half helmets, while also proposing a steep increase in penalties for motorists riding on footpaths and violating one-way traffic rules.
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced the proposed measures on Sunday, November 1, stating that the government was examining the legal provisions required to act against manufacturers and sellers of half helmets. The move is aimed at improving road safety and curbing traffic violations across the state.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, the minister said the number of people using half helmets had increased and that the government had decided to take action against their manufacture and sale. Officials are examining the legal provisions to implement the decision.
₹5,000 fine proposed for riding on footpaths
The government is considering increasing the penalty for riding two-wheelers on footpaths from the existing ₹500 to ₹5,000 for the first offence. Repeat offenders could face a fine of ₹10,000 under the proposed revision.
Suresh said footpaths are meant for pedestrians, but two-wheelers and even four-wheelers are being driven on them, putting people’s lives at risk. He pointed out that such violations have resulted in deaths and injuries.
The Transport and Home departments have submitted a proposal to increase the penalties. A final decision will be taken after obtaining the opinion of the Legal Department.
Tenfold increase in one-way violation penalty
The state government is also planning to increase the fine for violating one-way traffic rules by ten times. The existing penalty of ₹1,000 could be raised to ₹10,000 under the proposal.
The proposed changes are intended to discourage motorists from driving against the direction of traffic, which can cause serious accidents and endanger other road users.
The government is also examining higher penalties for other violations that affect traffic movement and public safety, including parking on footpaths, unauthorised parking, parking in no-parking zones and signal violations.
Points-based driving licence system under consideration
The proposals were discussed during a joint review meeting attended by Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh at Vidhana Soudha.
Senior officials participated in the meeting, which focused on reducing traffic congestion in Bengaluru, improving road safety and strengthening enforcement against repeat offenders.
One of the key proposals discussed was the introduction of a points-based driving licence system. Under this system, penalty points would be assigned to motorists for different traffic violations. A driving licence could be suspended if the accumulated points reach a specified limit.
Officials also discussed the legal requirements for introducing the system.
Sarathi and e-challan systems may be integrated
The meeting also examined a proposal to integrate the Transport Department’s Sarathi system with the Bengaluru Traffic Police’s e-challan platform.
The proposed integration would allow traffic police personnel to verify driving licence details on the spot and access a motorist’s previous traffic violations. Newly recorded offences could also be linked directly to the driver’s digital record.
The system is expected to help authorities identify repeat offenders and improve monitoring of traffic violations.
The proposed measures are part of the Karnataka government’s efforts to strengthen road safety and ensure better compliance with traffic regulations. However, the revised fines and other measures are still under consideration and should not be treated as implemented rules until the government issues a final decision.