Babus in cars with black films, jaywalkers escape action in Mumbai

The traffic police surely seem to concentrate on most of the offences while ignoring some of them. Data pertaining to traffic violations since January 2010 shows that in 2012 there was decline in booking offenders, but thereafter there has been a steady rise.

For instance, In 2010, cops had booked 18,929 motorists for overspeeding. The number plunged to 767 in 2012. Similarly, there had been a decline in penalising motorists for offences like honking unnecessarily, talking on mobile phone, driving without licence, illegal parking, etc. during the said period.

However, a sudden crackdown on vehicles with tinted glasses seems to have given results. In 2011, cops fined 15,355 motorists for using dark films. But in 2012, thanks to a Supreme Court directive, they went into an overdrive, which continued in 2013 as well and saw the number touching 1.76 lakh. It is a different matter that several government officials themselves continue to use tinted glasses despite being aware that it poses a security threat.

The data also shows that the traffic department has stopped taking action against bicyclists and jaywalkers. In 2011, cops booked 207 errant pedestrians, as against 589 in 2010. However, from 2012 onwards, not a single undisciplined pedestrian has been penalised.

According to data available with the Mumbai Traffic Police department, between 2008 and 2012, pedestrians comprised 58 per cent of road fatalities, while 30 per cent pertained to bikers.

Despite the alarming numbers, hundreds of two-wheeler riders continue to ignore traffic rules by not wearing a helmet. Last year, the department had booked 2,36,207 such errant bikers, while till March, 57,964 riders have ended up paying fines for ignoring their own safety.