Jumping red light most common traffic offence in UT, 4.29L fined

Red light jumping emerged as the leading traffic violation in the UT this year, accounting for 48.41% of the total 8,86,881 challans issued till November 18. A staggering 4,29,355 challans were issued for the offence. The police collected a whopping Rs 19.70 crore as fine for different traffic offences this year.

While red light jumping led the chart, overspeeding wasn’t far behind. With 1,29,545 challans, it became the second most common offence followed closely by violation of stopping vehicles on zebra crossing, which saw 94,824 challans.

Helmetless riding also remained rampant on the city roads. This year, 81,957 challans were issued to riders and pillion riders without helmet. Among them, women riders were caught in significant numbers — 6,722 were fined for riding without helmet, and 43,852 for riding pillion without the protective headgear. Wrong parking, too, remained a common sight in the city, leading to 30,969 challans.

Meanwhile, social media played a significant role in traffic enforcement. The traffic police’s social media cell issued 8,331 challans based on photos of violations sent by vigilant citizens.

Behind the enforcement effort were the city’s high-resolution CCTV cameras, silently capturing traffic offenders in action. A total of 7,38,703 challans were issued through the cameras. The official data further revealed only 68 challans were issued for underage driving. The high number of challans issued for offences like red light jumping and helmetless riding underscores the need for better road safety awareness. “The emphasis must shift from enforcement to education. Building a culture of responsible driving, respecting traffic rules, and prioritising safety can make Chandigarh roads safer for everyone. This year’s numbers are not just statistics but call for action by citizens and the authorities alike,” said Harman Singh Sidhu, president, ArriveSafe, an NGO on road safety.