Preventative measures: Bigger fines proposed for traffic violations

The IG has proposed that fines be raised to curb reckless driving and running the red light.

LAHORE:

In an attempt to curb “an increasing trend of traffic violations”, the government is considering increasing the rates of fines for violating traffic signals and reckless driving, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Presently, traffic police personnel can fine motorcyclists Rs200 for running a traffic signal and Rs300 for reckless driving. Those driving cars or SUVs can be fined Rs500 for violating a traffic signal and Rs500 for reckless driving.

In a proposal sent to the Home Department, the police inspector general, has suggested almost tripling the fines, an official close to developments has said.

According to the proposal, the IG has proposed raising the fine for violating traffic signals by motorcyclists to Rs500 and Rs1,000 for driving motorcycles recklessly. He has suggested that traffic signal violation by car or SUV drivers should be raised to Rs1,000 and Rs3,000 for reckless driving.

As many as 92,181 traffic signal violations and 3,300 cases of reckless driving were reported between January and July 2013. The traffic police found that 70 per cent of these violations had been committed by motorcycle drivers.

The IG said in the proposal that the trend is increasing dangerously...it is also creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic in major cities.

He said the initiative to raise fines would also enhance revenue collection.

The Home Department has sent the summary to the Finance Department for its input as it involves financial aspects, an official of the Home Department said. If the chief minister approves the proposal, it would come into effect from July.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2014.