Rs 9,000 crore of traffic fines unpaid in 2024: report

CARS24 Challan Report says traffic departments from across various States in the country issued traffic fines worth Rs 12, 000 crore, of which Rs 9, 000 crore remain unpaid

Hyderabad: In the year 2024, traffic departments from across various States in the country issued traffic fines worth Rs 12, 000 crore, of which Rs 9, 000 crore remain unpaid, a new report titled Challan Report by CARS24, on Monday said.

“Over 8 crore challans were issued last year, for nearly one for every second vehicle on the road. Despite strict regulations, enforcement lags behind, and non-compliance continues to thrive. The data indicates that the system has penalties that only exist on paper, but deterrence remains weak,” the Challan Report said.

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“Every traffic violation is a silent vote against civic order. If we want safer cities, we need a cultural shift from compliance out of fear to responsibility out of pride.” commented Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder, CARS24.

The violations themselves pointed to a worrying pattern, as over-speeding accounted for nearly 50 percent of all challan issued. Close behind were violations for not wearing helmets or seat belts, obstructive parking, and signal jumping offences that not only flout the law but place countless lives at risk. A whopping 75 percent of fines remain unpaid, revealing a gaping hole in enforcement and public accountability.

Interestingly, the data also disproves the myth that one segment of road users is more compliant than the other. Around 55 percent of challans were issued to four-wheelers, while the remaining 45 percent came from two-wheelers.

CARS24’s Challan Report has called for urgent reform in both policy and public perception in the form of stricter enforcement mechanisms, greater use of technology like AI-enabled surveillance and automated challan systems, and stronger public awareness about the consequences of non-compliance.