Wrong-Side Driving Persists as Top Traffic Offence in Gurgaon Despite Police Crackdown
In Gurgaon, wrong-side driving continues to dominate the city's traffic violation charts, even as police have ramped up enforcement measures and begun registering criminal cases against offenders. This alarming trend highlights ongoing challenges in curbing reckless driving behavior that contributes significantly to congestion and accidents.
Recent Enforcement Data Reveals Consistent Violation Patterns
During the week of January 19 to January 25, Gurgaon traffic police issued a staggering 14,219 challans under the 'Challan Nahi Salam Milega' campaign, collecting fines amounting to Rs 1.94 crore. Among these, wrong-side driving emerged as the most common offence with 1,844 motorists receiving challans for this dangerous practice.
Data from the previous week showed a similar pattern, with wrong-side driving accounting for 1,855 of approximately 22,000 challans issued between January 12 and January 18. This consistency indicates that despite increased police action, many drivers continue to flout this fundamental traffic rule.
Criminal Action and Enhanced Surveillance Measures
Since January 1, police have registered 20 FIRs against motorists whose actions caused traffic disruption or posed risks to public safety. These cases were filed under multiple legal provisions including:
- Section 125(a) of the BNS for acts endangering life through rash or negligent conduct
- Section 281 of the BNS for rash driving
- Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act for dangerous driving
A traffic police official emphasized that "wrong-side driving remains a major contributor to congestion and accidents, particularly on arterial roads, service lanes and high-speed corridors such as NH8 and Dwarka Expressway." To address this, enforcement has been intensified using:
- Field staff deployment
- NHAI camera surveillance
- Drone technology monitoring
Other Major Traffic Violations Recorded
Beyond wrong-side driving, police documented numerous other violations during the January 19-25 period:
- Wrong parking: 1,179 challans
- Driving without seat belts: 1,112 challans
- Pillion riders without helmets: 884 challans
- Drivers without helmets: 846 challans
- Road marking violations: 791 challans
Additional serious offences included drunken driving (210 cases), dangerous U-turns (397), unsafe lane changes (477), mobile phone use while driving (133), triple riding (143), and speeding (109). Camera-based enforcement captured violations including no-entry breaches, improper lane changes, speeding, and seat belt and helmet infractions.
Focus on High-Risk Corridors and Public Awareness
Police maintained special surveillance on critical stretches including NH8, Dwarka Expressway, and Mumbai Expressway, utilizing NHAI cameras and drone technology. On NH8 and Dwarka Expressway alone, 22 challans were issued for unsafe lane changes, which authorities identified as a key contributor to accidents on these high-speed corridors.
As part of broader traffic management efforts, awareness drives were conducted at 20 locations, reaching over 1,060 citizens and students. Participants received education about traffic rules, emergency helpline numbers, and safe driving practices including lane discipline, avoiding wrong-side driving, adhering to speed limits, proper helmet use, and refraining from mobile phone use while driving.
Long-Term Trends and Community Engagement Initiatives
Data from 2025 reveals that wrong-side driving represents a persistent problem in Gurgaon, with 203,936 motorists fined for this violation during the year. Other significant violations included:
- 120,000 overspeeding violations
- 180,000 wrong-side parking violations
- 79,615 challans for sudden lane changes
- 390,000 helmet violations
- 450,000 fines for triple riding or pillion rider violations
- 5,812 cases of mobile phone use while driving
To strengthen enforcement capabilities, traffic police are inducting volunteers as "Traffic Mitras." The program has received over 180 applications, with 39 volunteers completing training at the TEC (IRTE) centre at the Traffic Tower. Police continue to appeal to commuters to cooperate with enforcement drives and follow traffic rules to ensure safer roads throughout the city.
Authorities stress that fines alone are not acting as a sufficient deterrent, and FIRs will continue to be registered in serious cases. The ongoing campaign represents a multi-pronged approach combining enforcement, criminal prosecution, technological surveillance, and public education to address Gurgaon's persistent traffic safety challenges.
