1.7 lakh driving licences impounded in a year

New Delhi: The Delhi police has seized around 1.71 lakh driving licences for jumping the red light, overspeeding, and other traffic offences in one year of the implementation of the Supreme Court-appointed panel’s directions.

“A total of 1,71,956 motorists were caught and their driving licences were seized during the period starting December 15, 2015, and November 30, 2016,” said Garima Bhatnagar, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

The maximum number of driving licences, around 90,666, was seized for jumping the red light. Overspeeding cases comprised the second highest cause of seizing, amounting to 71,625 driving licences. The use of goods vehicles for carrying passengers led to seizure of 1,401 driving licences.

Offences like use of mobile while driving and drunken driving resulted in seizure of 4,600 and 3,438 driving licences respectively, the officer said, adding that the number in these two cases was far too less than other common offences as people have started taking precautions to avoid getting caught.

The Delhi police is the first force in the country to have implemented the directions of the apex court appointed three- member committee on road safety chaired by Justice KS Radhakrishnan.

The directions of the committee on road safety came into operation from December 15, 2015. The panel directed for the seizure of driving licences of violators and suspension for at least three months for traffic violations.