In 2024, Bengaluru’s traffic police collected ₹7.43 crore in fines from over 3.4 lakh violations during special drives targeting offences like defective silencers, triple riding, one-way violations, footpath riding, and auto-rickshaw refusals. These manual enforcement drives address issues undetectable via contactless methods, such as CCTV cameras.
While the fines demonstrate stricter enforcement, experts argue the deterrence effect remains limited. Despite efforts, violations such as triple riding and footpath riding persist, reflecting poor road user behavior and inadequate awareness of safety risks.
Former Bengaluru Police Chief M. N. Reddi stressed the need for “certainty, severity, and immediacy” in enforcement. While certainty has improved with cameras, delayed penalties undermine the impact. ADGP Alok Kumar suggested more impactful measures like confiscating licenses after repeated violations or filing FIRs for dangerous driving.
Experts also highlighted the role of infrastructure in mitigating violations. M. A. Saleem, DGP, CID, noted that decongesting roads and improving public transport could reduce offences like one-way violations and footpath riding. Dhawal Ashar of WRI India advocated for “self-regulating” infrastructure design to minimize rule-breaking opportunities.
Additionally, integrating traffic education into school curriculums and fostering responsible driving habits could create lasting behavioral change. With limited human resources, the burden of enforcement remains challenging, making urban planning and public awareness critical to addressing these issues.
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