Stricter traffic laws went into effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year, placing drivers who had unpaid penalties on notice. Authorities have cautioned that there may be harsh consequences, such as the seizure of driver’s licenses, if outstanding debts are not paid.
If e-challans are not paid for more than three months, driving licenses may be banned for three months under the new regulations. A three-month license suspension may also result from receiving three challans for reckless driving or red light offences in a single fiscal year.
The government’s worry over the poor recovery rates of e-challans—just 40% of penalties are collected—is what is driving this campaign. The government is thinking of raising insurance rates for car owners who have at least two outstanding challans from the previous fiscal year in an effort to further enforce compliance.
The government intends to put in place a thorough standard operating procedure since it understands that certain penalties can be unpaid because of mistakes or delayed notifications. This would include monthly notifications to car owners regarding unpaid penalties and minimum requirements for traffic cameras.
At 14%, Delhi now has the lowest recovery rate for challans, followed by Karnataka (21%), Tamil Nadu (27%), and Uttar Pradesh (27%). Maharashtra and Haryana, on the other hand, have the highest recovery rates, at 62% and 76%, respectively.
