Road to Electronic Traffic Surveillance in India
Since September 2019, a new Motor Vehicle Act is enforced. Until now, the Indian government has upped fines and penalties on all traffic issues. One of the key weapons which the government has utilised against violators of the rules and regulations of roads is through e-challans. Even with this increased fine, more than 1.3 lakh e-challans are being issued daily. And more than 24 crore e-challans have already been issued, so far. Just this count alone gives a sense about the scale at which rule violations are occurring across India.
Scale of E-Challan Implementation
E-challan system, which MoRTH has brought for better monitoring and enforcement of the law traffic laws, has been a game-changer. Total collected fines amount to almost Rs 35,860 crore from the time of the initiation of this system, but all payments done by departments involved are mainly by the departments of traffic police and the transport department, and so far, the total collection amounts to only Rs 14,298 crore. And a good amount still remains to be paid by more than Rs 21,500 crore.
E-Challan Data Breakdown:
Total E-Challans Issued: Over 24 crore
Average Daily E-Challans: 1.3 lakh
Total Fines Imposed: Rs 35,860 crore
Fines Collected: Rs 14,298 crore
Pending Fines: Rs 21,500 crore
It is also quite clear through the data that five states make up nearly 70% of e-challans issued collectively in India, namely Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, and Delhi. Places like Telangana, comparatively, had to wait much longer since they launched their e-challan, till 2024 actually.
E-Challans and Their Impact on Traffic Behavior
The increase in e-challans is a reflection of the deeper problem of traffic violations across the country. Experts feel that the number of violations is much higher than the number of e-challans recorded. Even with the penalties, the violations are widespread, which suggests that the system is not deterrent enough. To this end, the authorities have been increasing the use of technology to monitor traffic and give fines automatically.
Key Insights on E-Challan Effectiveness:
Increased Surveillance: CCTV-based surveillance is being increasingly used to automatically generate e-challans for traffic violations.
Automation Focus: Automation of the traffic monitoring system is expected to catch violators in real time and, thus improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.
This growing number of e-challans indicates that, despite greater fine amounts and effective enforcement, traffic violations still pose an alarming problem.
Legislative Justification for Electronic Enforcement
In September 2024, the Supreme Court of India directed electronic enforcement for better road safety. The Court asked all state governments to use electronic monitoring systems for traffic violation. It also asked states and UTs to give e-challans through electronic enforcement equipment and ensured that the penalty levied is ascertained from the data collected through the devices.
This shows the crucial role played by technology in road safety. The focus is now not only on increasing penalties but also making it much easier for authorities to identify and penalize an offender. Systems such as CCTV cameras, ANPR systems, among others, are now being put at the core of the strategy aimed at eradicating traffic violations and accidents all over the world.
Trends in Traffic Violations and Enforcement around the World
International studies have shown that traffic violations tend to drop drastically when the perceived probability of being caught is high. Strong, objective surveillance systems, combined with enforcement and education, are sure to reduce traffic violations and the resultant accidents. Through this initiative, India intends to bring down the road deaths figure and make roads safer.
In most countries with developed systems of traffic monitoring, incidents of road accidents have decreased profoundly. The same model of strengthening electronic enforcement and elevating public awareness to the threat of traffic violation is implemented in India.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Traffic Enforcement in India
One of the important steps to have road safety and discipline on roads in India would be electronic enforcement of traffic laws. Although the number of e-challans are continuously increasing, it’s getting difficult to enhance collection rates of fines and enforce compliance from people. The country is headed toward better enforcement of traffic law with more surveillance, automation, and support from the legal system.
This long-term goal of this is to reduce traffic violations, accidents, and improve safety on roads all over the country. The more developed this e-challan system will be, the better it will be in providing a safe driving experience for everyone.
Refer:
TOI, Link to article
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