Two-Wheeler Riders Top Traffic Offenders in City; Over 30 Lakh Challans Issued in 2024
Two-Wheeler Riders Top Traffic Offenders in City; Over 30 Lakh Challans Issued in 2024
Mumbai: Police data reveals helmetless riding and illegal parking among top violations; unpaid fines cross ₹382 crore
Two-wheeler riders emerged as the Mumbai city’s top traffic violators in 2024, with over 30 lakh challans issued to them for a wide range of infractions, according to police data. In contrast, car drivers received 9.2 lakh challans, making them a distant second in the list of offenders. Public transport drivers fared slightly better, with autorickshaw drivers receiving 7.6 lakh challans, kaali-peeli taxi drivers 2.4 lakh, and public bus drivers about 46,000.
A senior police official said, “We often find motorcyclists jumping signals, riding in the wrong direction and cutting lanes. In a few instances, they have even rammed into our personnel while trying to evade legal action.”
The most common violations in 2024 were riding without helmets (13.4 lakh challans) and parking offences (12.8 lakh challans), underscoring the growing parking crisis in the city.
Ajay Govale, vice-president of the NGO United Way Mumbai, pointed out that a high number of challans doesn’t necessarily indicate a rise in violations. “It could mean enforcement has stepped up,” he said, while highlighting the significant share of two-wheeler riders and pillion passengers in crash-related fatalities. The NGO is working with RTOs in Thane, Andheri, and other areas to provide defensive driving training to new learners.
Auto and taxi drivers were also penalised heavily, with 4.66 lakh challans issued for refusal to ply. However, union leaders voiced concerns over the fairness of such penalties. Auto union leader Shashank Rao blamed illegal auto drivers for most violations, saying, “We work with the authorities to identify illegal autos and unscrupulous drivers operating without uniforms and badges.”
In contrast, union leader Thampy Kurien alleged that police sometimes misuse enforcement powers. “In many instances, traffic cops threaten to fine drivers ₹500 for ‘illegal parking’ even when they’re just waiting for passengers. After pleading, the fine is reduced to ₹50 under the ‘refusal’ category.”
Transporters have demanded a halt to manual enforcement using mobile phones, instead urging the authorities to rely on surveillance cameras and sensor-based systems for fair and consistent enforcement.
Another pressing issue is the large volume of unpaid challans. Police records show that 68% of the challans issued in 2024 remain unpaid, amounting to dues worth ₹382 crore. Experts attribute this trend to the exploding number of two-wheelers in the city, 30 lakh out of 50 lakh registered vehicles.
The data has prompted renewed calls for stricter vehicle ownership regulations and a focus on strengthening public transportation to tackle the growing traffic and safety concerns.
