Cops on challaning spree to check accidents

BQ– As many as 84,691 challans were issued in 2019 as against 32,375 in 2018 which led to the collection of fine worth Rs 2.98 crore as against Rs 1.27 crore collected in the previous year.

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Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 3

In a bid to bring down the rate of accidents, the Baddi police are taking punitive action against the violators of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act.

As many as 84,691 challans were issued in 2019 as against 32,375 issued in 2018 which led to the collection of fine worth Rs 2.98 crore as against Rs 1.27 crore collected in the previous year.

As many as 3,774 challans were issued for drunken driving in 2019 as against 278 in 2018. This was also a reflection of the callous attitude of the motorists in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) where accidents have failed to act as a deterrent to the motorists indulged in drunken driving.

SP, Baddi, Rohit Malpani, said challans issued for offences like drunken driving witnessed a sharp increase in 2019 and it had helped in bringing down the rate of accidents to some extent as it was found that drunken driving was among the major cause of accidents.

The area has witnessed 169 accidents in 2019 where 69 persons had lost their lives and 228 had been injured. As many as 180 accidents had taken place in 2018 where 51 had been killed and 228 people injured.

The state government has to incur an exorbitant amount on paying compensation to accident victims which puts an additional strain on the exchequer. As much as Rs 14.8 crore was incurred in paying compensation in 37 cases of accidents in the area in five months from July to November 2019.