In a significant escalation of its road safety measures, the Delhi Traffic Police has announced a stringent crackdown on the dangerous practice of driving on the wrong side of the road. Senior officers have clarified that offenders now face the prospect of a First Information Report (FIR) being registered against them, moving beyond mere fines to potential criminal prosecution.
Why the Sudden Strictness? Rising Numbers Prompt Action
The decision to invoke stricter legal provisions comes against the backdrop of alarmingly high numbers of traffic violations. Official data reveals a sharp increase in wrong-side driving cases. In 2025 alone, a staggering 3,05,843 cases were reported. While challans were issued for 1,78,448 of these, notices were served for the remaining 1,27,395 cases. This marked a significant jump from the total of 2,49,210 challans and notices issued in the previous year, 2024.
Senior officers, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Kime Kaming and Additional Commissioner D K Gupta, emphasized that this reckless behavior has become a major contributor to road accidents in the capital, endangering the lives of both the violators and innocent road users. The move to register FIRs, they stated, has been under consideration to act as a stronger deterrent and instill a greater sense of responsibility among drivers.
From Fine to FIR: What Changes for the Offender?
Previously, getting caught driving on the wrong side would result in a monetary penalty. The current fine for this violation stands at Rs 5,000. However, under the new directive, the consequences become far more severe.
If an FIR is registered, it will be filed under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, which deals with rash driving or riding on a public way. This section attracts a punishment of imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of Rs 1,000, or both. Crucially, the vehicle involved in the offence will also be seized by the authorities.
Although it is classified as a bailable offence, the process to secure bail and retrieve the impounded vehicle is lengthy and requires the individual to visit both the police station and the court.
Will Every Violation Lead to an FIR?
Traffic Police officials have indicated that while the possibility of an FIR will loom over every wrong-side driving violation, it may not be applied in every single instance. The primary goal is to create a powerful psychological deterrent.
However, an FIR will definitely be registered in scenarios where the traffic officer finds the offender on a road with heavy traffic, or determines that the driver's action could have endangered lives. This discretionary power given to officers on the ground is intended to target the most dangerous instances of the violation, where the risk of a catastrophic accident is highest.
The crackdown, announced in New Delhi on January 7, 2026, represents a paradigm shift in how traffic violations are prosecuted in the national capital, signaling a move towards stricter accountability for reckless driving behavior.
