Sharp rise in use of mobile while driving
32,000 e-challans were issued to violators this year.
MUMBAI: The number of people being issued e-challans for using mobile phones while driving or riding has increased sharply during the first four months of 2018 as compared to the corresponding period last year. This year’s figure stands at 32,000; nearly 8,000 more than last year’s figure of 24,000 e-challans issued to violators. Again, 32,000 only indicates the number of e-challans issued and does not include violators who were fined manually.
Using a mobile phone while driving or riding is punishable with the imposition of a Rs 100 to rs 300 fine. If a pedestrian is inconvenienced, the fine is raised to Rs 500. After the use of mobile phones, the second-highest violation pertains to driving or riding without seat belts/helmets; and the third-highest to speeding or rash driving.
Among the three most common traffic violations, the number of instances of talking or texting using mobile phones has gone up significantly despite various attempts to curb the same. According to traffic police officials, apart from speeding or rash driving, using mobile phones while driving or riding is the single most common cause of accidents.
Amitesh Kumar, joint commissioner of police (traffic) said, “The use of phones while driving is among the most prominent violations of the Motor Vehicles Act,
which is followed by other violations like driving without a helmet, rash driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol. In most cases of traffic violations related to use of mobile phones, youngsters in the age group of 18 to 28 years have been observed to comprise 80 per cent of the violators, while only 20 per cent are out of the said age group.”
“Using mobile phones while driving or riding has become a huge concern and the traffic police is trying its best to root it out. Strict action is being initiated against motorists foundusing their mobile phones while driving and fines are also being collected from them,” said Mr Kumar.
Officials said that despite various awareness campaigns undertaken, the number of motorists using mobile phones while driving or riding does not seem to come down.