In five months, over 55,000 challaned for using cell phone while driving

63,000 two-wheeler riders penalised for triple-riding, not wearing helmet

The Jammu and Kashmir traffic police have challaned over 55,000 persons for using mobile phones while driving across the state in the past five months.
For the period, around 63,000 two-wheeler riders were challaned for not wearing helmets and for triple-riding. This has been done under a special drive launched by the traffic police in an attempt to dissuade the driver from using mobile phone while driving.
“At least 62,883 two-wheeler riders were challaned for not wearing helmets and for triple-riding. 6,751 were challaned for not wearing seatbelt. A total of 55,243 persons were challaned for using mobile phones, 946 for speeding, 13,558 for overloading and 7,548 for other offences,” said Viplav Kumar, Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Traffic, during a meeting of senior police officers at the Police Headquarters here. The meeting was chaired by the Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, K Rajendra.
The meeting was convened to review the functioning of the traffic system in the state and to discuss overall progress achieved during the special drive launched against traffic violators.
The special drive was initiated in July this year. Besides, requirements for the traffic wing to improve its capabilities for successful traffic management were also discussed threadbare.
During the meeting, the DGP called for adopting modern technology and better techniques to bring about much-needed improvements in the traffic management in J&K. He also sought strict enforcement of traffic rules to ensure smooth traffic movement on the roads.
He said special efforts are needed to bring about innovative changes in the traffic system, besides creating awareness about traffic rules among the road users. Additional manpower was being provided to the traffic wing in a phased manner to strengthen the management, he said.
Rajendra asked traffic police officers to utilise all available sources effectively to strengthen the system on modern lines. He said the formulation of a comprehensive traffic policy and strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Act would definitely yield desired results to minimise the difficulties of the road users.
He said in order to curb the traffic violations, latest equipment and gear, viz video cameras, etc, would be provided to the wing to monitor the traffic activities on roads, besides more motorbikes would be provided to mobile squads.
Among others, the meeting was attended by SSP, Traffic, Jammu, Mohan Lal, AIG (Personnel), PHQ, Tahir Sajjad, and SP, Traffic, Rural, Jammu, Dushan Sharma.