Strict enforcement of rule, recovery of fines needed to reduce accidents: Traffic experts

Nagpur: Motorists and traffic activists in Nagpur feel that only strict enforcement of Motor Vehicles Act can bring down traffic violations and accidents. After Eknath Shinde said that strict legal action like introducing non-bailable offences against violators was necessary to curtail road accidents, traffic experts backed the chief minister’s stand.
Though traffic police have been issuing nearly 3,600 challans per day for violation of rules, it is not resulting in safe driving on city roads. Experts say that non-realization of the fine amount is the main reason for the city’s deteriorating traffic scene.
In the first four months of this year, only 13.56% of the booked motorists paid fines. Nagpur city police data revealed that over 4.31 lakh motorists were booked from January to April, and the total fine of around Rs25.80 crore was to be recovered from these violators. However, only 58,572 individuals paid a total fine of Rs3.24 crore, while over 3.65 lakh motorists haven’t yet paid.
Traffic expert Anjan Chatterjee, rash and negligent driving is a criminal act that endangers lives and limbs oftraffic users. “The errant drivers need to be nailed by registering offences under Sec 279 and 304 (a) of IPC, and section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Sections 279 of IPC and 184 of MV Act are presently bailable, whereas 304 of IPC is non-bailable,” he pointed out.
“If state amends law to make all these non-bailable, it will be commendable. Steep fine hikes have not yet deterred offenders. Punitive actions could help deliver the results,” the lawyer said.
However, founder member of NGO Jankroash, Ashok Karandikar, differed with the CM’s statement. “This will not be needed if current provisions are strictly enforced. If CM’s suggestion is implemented, every MV Act violation could be called rash and reckless. It could become a tool for harassment,” he said.
“Non-enforcement of rule and non-collection of fines encourages violations. These two lapses on part of traffic police are the reason for increase in violations,” he said.
“Non bailable offence under CrPC is for very serious offences and not for MV Act violations,” Karandikar said. Further the act provides for compounding charges for repeated violations. Only offences like drunken driving called for more severe punishment, he added.
Lawyer Ankita Shah said that the proposal mooted by the CM has both pros and cons. “Cops should not indulge in corruption and let offenders go unpunished,” Shah said. Citing her experience, Shah said that whenever accidents occur and the offender flees the spot, it gets difficult to catch them.
“Most of the CCTV cameras are defunct, and it is also difficult to get the footage from the NMC’s CCTV camera. There should be a good system inplace to identify the offenders,” she said.