Ahmedabad: The data for 2024 released by the city traffic police suggested that, on average, one Amdavadi was caught for not wearing a helmet every 30 seconds. In 2024, as many as 10 lakh citizens were charged Rs 4.86 crore for not wearing a helmet. This was the top among all 49 categories of traffic violations.
With over 10 lakh cases, helmet violations alone constituted nearly half of the total violations. The city recorded a total of 19.96 lakh traffic violation cases, for which people paid a total fine of Rs 21.69 crore. There was a tenfold increase in the offence of not wearing a helmet since 2023, when 11,279 people were fined a total of Rs 56.61 lakh. In 2024, the city traffic police collected a fine of Rs 21.69 crore from nearly 20 lakh offenders. In 2023, the number of offenders was 1.87 lakh, and fines amounted to Rs 11.15 crore.
Like helmet-less riding, the offence of jumping red lights was also at its peak, with 2.66 lakh offences recorded in 2024, and a total fine of Rs 1.82 crore collected.
A senior traffic official remarked, “Helmets save lives, yet a large number of riders ignore this basic safety measure. Our aim is to intensify enforcement and educate citizens about road safety.” The city traffic police tightened the noose on helmet-less riders after the Gujarat high court reprimanded authorities over non-compliance. In Aug, the Gujarat high court took on the city traffic police, after which cops began special drives against helmet-less riders.
Additional police commissioner for the city traffic police, N N Chaudhary, said that these figures include both on the spot fines and e-challans. Chaudhary said that people are still not cultivating the habit of wearing helmets, which is not just mandatory under law but also for their own safety.
“There is lack of awareness among people, and thus the rule of wearing a helmet is still not being followed,” said Chaudhary.