Driving without helmets is one of the most common offenses committed by Indian two-wheeler riders on the road. No matter how many campaigns are run to create awareness, the result remains the same. However, recently, with the increase in the number of challans issued, people have become more careful and are now starting to be cognizant. Recently, it has been reported that the Ahmedabad City police alone have managed to collect over Rs 2 crore in fines within a period of two weeks.
Over Rs 2 Crore in Fines from Helmet Violations
As per the reports, the Ahmedabad City police, between August 20 and September 6, 2024, registered 44,204 cases against two-wheeler riders. All of these cases were registered against riders who were found riding without helmets. These violators were collectively fined an impressive sum of Rs 2,20,87,100.
The move was part of a broader campaign to enforce road safety rules after the High Court’s intervention. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), N.N. Chaudhary, noted that this drive was not only important for ensuring adherence to the law but also aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries caused by head injuries in road accidents.
Importance of Helmet Enforcement
Between January and August 2024, the city of Ahmedabad witnessed 422 accidents involving two-wheeler riders. Of these, 97 fatalities were caused to riders who were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Additionally, 259 people suffered grievous injuries in these accidents.
Helmet Enforcement Challenges
Despite everyone knowing the result of not wearing a helmet, many two-wheeler riders in Ahmedabad continue to resist the law. According to the Ahmedabad Traffic Police, some riders cite discomfort due to high temperatures, especially during the summer months, as a primary reason for not wearing helmets.
Nandish Jasani, a 43-year-old resident of Vastrapur, explained that helmets make riders feel hot and sweaty, particularly in humid conditions. For short trips around the city, many riders perceive wearing a helmet as an unnecessary inconvenience. In a similar fashion, Kunal Oza, a 46-year-old resident of Old City Ahmedabad, stated his discontent with road conditions rather than helmet laws.
He argued that if the government collects taxes such as road tax and GST, it should prioritize fixing the city’s potholed roads. He added that authorities appear more focused on enforcing helmet fines rather than ensuring road safety through infrastructure improvements.
Gujarat’s Traffic Fine Collection in 2023 Reached Rs 139 Crore
Back in 2023, Gujarat generated over Rs 100 crore in traffic fines, which at the time was a substantial increase from previous years. In fact, Gujarat traffic police collected Rs 139 crore in fines in 2023, compared to Rs 98 crore and Rs 92 crore in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
This 51% rise in fine collections reflects both stricter enforcement and the state’s focus on improving road safety. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, presented these figures in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the state’s efforts to tackle traffic violations.
Gujarat police issued 15.99 lakh challans during this period, generating an average daily fine of Rs 38 lakh from around 4,400 challans. Each challan averaged a fine of Rs 860, according to calculations based on the available data.
Major cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot contributed significantly to the overall fine collection, with Ahmedabad alone reporting 4.92 lakh challans issued by the end of 2023.
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