Srinagar, Dec 30: Between January 1st and November 30th this year, the Jammu and Kashmir traffic department collected a hefty 30 crore in fines from violators, while there were about 64 crore in challans that were pending resolution in different Union Territory courts.
According to a senior traffic department official, the goal of these initiatives is to reduce fatalities in the UT. Approximately 12,52,000 challans were issued to traffic violators in the following year, according to an official.
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An official said that the primary focus of traffic cops is to educate people about traffic rules, stating, “We can only penalize the traffic violators; there are some other departments that need to take strict action against this growing concern.”
When asked about the fatality rate being consistent in the last few years, the officer clarified that there are around 21.6 lakh vehicles in the Union Territory, of which around 50 per cent have been penalized, accounting for 12,52,000 challans. With an increase of around 1.21 lakh vehicles in the current year and a total addition of 5 lakh vehicles over the last four years, the officer attributed the decline in road accidents to this growth.
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Despite improvements, the Pir Panchal region continues to witness higher fatalities. The officer stressed the importance of people using civic sense when crossing roads, noting that some individuals drive at excessive speeds, contributing to road accidents.
The officer urged every driver to remember that they have every right on the road, but simultaneously, they should be mindful that the land where they have parking their vehicles doesn’t belong to them. Adopting this mentality, the officer believes will bring about positive change.
