In a decisive move to curb a rampant and dangerous traffic violation, the Delhi Police has significantly escalated its enforcement strategy against wrong-side driving. The force has moved beyond issuing standard fines and has now begun registering criminal cases, known as First Information Reports (FIRs), against offenders. This marks a major shift in tackling a problem that led to over 3 lakh challans in the previous year.
From Fines to Criminal Charges: The New Enforcement Reality
The traditional method of issuing e-challans for driving against the flow of traffic is no longer the only consequence. The police are now invoking stricter legal provisions. The primary charge is under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for 'rash or negligent driving on a public way'. Additionally, sections 146 and 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act are applied for driving without valid insurance.
Unlike an e-challan that can be settled online, an FIR requires the offender to appear before a court, initiating a formal legal process. The monetary penalties remain severe, with fines up to Rs 5,000 for a first offence and doubling to Rs 10,000 for a repeat violation. Authorities also have the power to seize the driver's licence and impound the vehicle.
Recent Cases Highlight the Crackdown
The police action is already underway, with several FIRs registered across the capital in early January.
Case 1 | Kapashera (January 5): A motorcyclist, identified as Ankit Gaur (29) from Samalkha village, was apprehended driving on the wrong carriageway at Kapashera Chowk. He cited traffic congestion and urgency as reasons. While he produced a valid licence, he failed to show insurance documents.
Case 2 | Vasant Vihar (January 5): A car was seen driving against traffic on the Mahipalpur-Mehrauli Road near Mata Chowk. The driver, Sanjay from Amethi, was intercepted after a PCR call. He and his vehicle were handed over for further legal action.
Case 3 | Delhi Cantt (January 3): A car was spotted driving at high speed on the wrong side near the Hanuman Mandir red light. The driver, Aman (34) from Kusumpur Pahadi, claimed congestion at the Mehram Nagar red light forced his action. He could not produce a valid driving licence or insurance papers.
The Scale of the Problem and Future Strategy
The crackdown addresses a massive issue. In the last year alone, 3,05,838 challans were issued for wrong-side driving violations in Delhi. To combat this effectively, the police have outlined a multi-pronged strategy going forward.
This includes sustained stricter enforcement through both challans and FIRs, the installation of clearer and more effective signage at vulnerable points, and ongoing public awareness campaigns. The police are also looking at implementing on-site traffic engineering solutions to physically prevent the possibility of wrong-side driving at key locations.
The message from the Delhi Police is clear: the shortcut of driving on the wrong side to avoid a U-turn is no longer just a costly traffic ticket—it is a fast track to a criminal record and a court appearance.
