Traffic violations have become very common in India, resulting in a surge in accident rates. To control the increasing accidents and traffic violations, they came up with the idea of implementing e-Challan system across the country.
The government’s decision to levy traffic fines on violators is aimed at enforcing traffic laws and ensuring the safety of commuters on the road. The annual publication ‘Road Accidents in India 2023’ clearly states a 4.18% increase in road accidents when compared to 2022. These sobering figures are a major concern for the government.
A look at the road accidents and death statistics 2024
The India’s road safety crisis has been a major concern. A lot of stricter measures are being adopted to improvise the current condition.
However, the data of the road accident fatalities revealed overwhelming figures.
- Road accident deaths: 1.8 lakh in 2024 as per NCRB report.
- Deaths due to not wearing a helmet: 30,000.
- Deceased falling in 18-34 years age: 66%.
Important note: These are the provisional figures. The comprehensive data for the year 2024 has not been released yet by the NCRB.
Top 10 traffic violations in India
Out of all the states across the country, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents in 2023 on National Highways and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a high number of road accident deaths, raising concern about road safety.
| Common Traffic Violation | Type of Violation | Approx. % of violations recorded | First Time Penalty/Legal Consequences (in ₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overspeeding | Driving | 60% + | LMV: 1,000 - 2,000 HMV: 2,000 - 4,000 |
| Riding without a helmet | Driving | 21.3% | 1,000 |
| Driving without fastening seatbelts | Driving | 17.39% - 47% | 1,000 |
| Using a mobile phone while driving | Driving | 30% - 40% | 5,000 |
| Driving under the influence | Driving | 40% | 10,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months |
| Driving without valid documents | Documents | Not clear | 5,000 or up to 3 months of jail |
| Parking violations | Parking related | 14% | 500 - 1,000 |
| Disobeying traffic lights | Driving | 40% | 1,000 |
| Minor driving a vehicle | Driving | Not defined | 1,000 - 5,000 |
| Wrong-side driving | Driving | 5.4% | 500 - 1,000 or up to 3 months of jail |
*The violation percentage is taken from different sources and might vary depending on the states, year and updated reports.
The penalty will vary from state to state.
Overspeeding
One of the most common traffic violations is overspeeding, i.e., riding or driving a vehicle at a speed more than the prescribed speed limit. As per MoRTH 2023 data, overspeeding alone accounts for more than 60% road accidents in the country. Drivers who exceed the speeding limits put their and others' lives at risk, leading to increased accidents and traffic violations.
To know if you have been issued a traffic fine, perform e challan check by vehicle number on Park+ or Parivahan.
Measures Taken
To control these violations and to easily identify the violators, the advanced digital systems, such as CCTVs, speed guns, are being used and implemented at several locations.
How to Avoid?
The simplest way to avoid overspeeding fines is by strictly sticking to the updated traffic rules 2025 and adhering to the speed limit.
Riding without a helmet
To ensure the safety of the two-wheeler riders, they must wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is not only necessary for the rider but also for the pillion rider. This violation accounted for around 21.3% of road fatalities in 2023.
Measures Taken
The government has implemented advanced devices at several locations to easily detect a traffic offence and issue an eChallan accordingly.
How to Avoid?
To avoid a bike fine, ensure you and the pillion rider are wearing a helmet, and the strip is also fastened. Avoid paying additional penalties by performing an online challan check.
Driving without a seatbelt
Another common offence recorded while doing a challan check is driving without a helmet. Despite several awareness campaigns and law enforcement, a lot of passengers don’t wear seatbelts.
Not wearing a helmet or driving without a seatbelt together accounts for 40% of the road fatalities and a 47.38% increase in Bangalore in 2023 alone compared to the previous year.
Measures Taken
- To control the increasing cases of seatbelt traffic fine, the government has been conducting several awareness campaigns.
- Moreover, the government has also revised the traffic penalties for stricter enforcement of the law.
How to Avoid?
- Always ensure the fastening of the seatbelt before you hit the road. Moreover, ensure that backseat passengers are also using seat belts for advanced safety.
- To avoid additional traffic penalties, perform e challan check at regular intervals.
Using a mobile phone while driving
Though the current data on the total number of e-challans issued in 2025 is not available, around 34,303 Bangalore traffic tickets have been issued during January - September 2025. An old survey says that around 83% of Bengalureans use mobile phones while driving, despite knowing about the traffic offences.
The experts at the Conclave of Medical Emergency and Trauma (COMET) 2025 mentioned that around 30% - 40% of accidents happen because of using a mobile phone while driving or walking.
Measures Taken
- To control this persistent issue, several special drives are being organized by the authorities. In addition to this, the fine amount for this offence has also been revised.
How to Avoid?
- To prevent yourself from getting penalised under this offence, don’t use your mobile phone while driving.
- In case of an emergency, park the vehicle on the side and take or make the call.
Driving under the influence
Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance is a serious traffic offence. The traffic police check the drivers via breathalysers and sobriety tests, and if you violate these guidelines, it leads to the issuance of e-challans and legal repercussions.
Up to 40% of road accidents may involve alcohol, says a study conducted at the Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (AIDC) in previous years. It further added that the revealed official figures are much lower than the actual ones.
Measures Taken
- Incorporation of surprise checkpoints.
- Conducting awareness with ‘National Road Safety Month’ (organised in January). The theme for this year's National Road Safety Month was ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha’.
- Roadside testing, such as breath analyzer tests, is also conducted, especially during late nights.
How to Avoid?
- Never drive a vehicle in case you are drunk. Instead, ask a friend to drop you off at your location or book a ride.
Driving without valid documents
Another serious traffic offence recorded is driving without carrying valid documents, such as a Driving License (DL), vehicle R.C., PUCC, insurance papers, etc. Driving without the required document attracts hefty fines.
Bangalore traffic police fine can be checked and settled by visiting to KarnatakaOne traffic fine portal.
Measures Taken
- The authorities have increased fines and imposed stricter punishments.
How to Avoid?
- Check if you have all the documents with you before embarking on the journey.
- Ensure that all the documents are valid and are renewed, such as PUCC or insurance documents.
- To avoid increased penalties/fines, pay off the traffic fine timely.
Parking Violations
Another serious and persistent traffic violation is obstructive parking. Parking in incorrect places or middle of the road blocks the way of the others, creating traffic congestion.
Measures Taken
- To deal with this issue, the authorities tow the vehicle that is parked incorrectly. All the traffic rules, including Bangalore traffic rules and fines, clearly state this offence.
- Non-adherence to the parking rules might result in issuing a violation ticket.
How to Avoid?
- Park your vehicle only in the allocated parking spaces.
- Don’t block the road.
Disobeying traffic lights
Traffic lights are incorporated for the safety of people and to guide them. However, in India, a lot of people either jump red lights, resulting in a road accident or disobey traffic lights.
According to a survey, around 40% of people don’t follow the traffic lights, especially in the early morning, when the traffic is low.
Measures Taken
- Incorporation of surveillance cameras and other advanced devices to detect violations and revision of the traffic fines.
How to Avoid?
- Always follow the traffic lights.
- Slow down the vehicle’s speed at a yellow or amber light.
Underage Driving
Another serious traffic offense in India is minor driving. As per the law, a minor is restricted from driving. A news report states that around 751 road accident cases are caused as a result of minor driving in Karnataka alone in 2023 - 2024.
Bangalore traffic rules and fines clearly restrict minor driving to avoid road accidents. All states have prohibited underage driving. A news article highlights that a total of 11,890 accidents in India were caused by minors during 2023-2024, an average of 16 accidents per day.
Measures Taken
- The government has revised the traffic fines and enforced stricter punishment for controlling this traffic offence.
How to Avoid?
- Never ask a minor to drive a vehicle, no matter what the case is.
Wrong-side Driving
Drivers prefer choosing shortcuts, knowing they are driving on the wrong side. In 2022, the number of road fatalities arising out of wrong-side driving accounted for 9094 cases, according to the PIB report, which is 5.4% of the total road accidents.
Measures Taken
- Strciter checking and issuance of eChallans.
How to Avoid?
- Always ensure you are driving on the right side.
How to get waiver or discounts on traffic fines?
Getting discounts on e-Challan sounds quite odd and the Telangana High Court has also slammed the state government’s practice of offering discounts on traffic challans, stating it would lead to road indiscipline and weaken the fear of the law among the citizens.
But the good news is that with the upcoming National Lok Adalat 2025 which is going to be held on December 13, 2025, across the country, individuals having outstanding traffic fine tickets can get waiver or discount on their traffic fines. However, Delhittes have to be patient, as Delhi Lok Adalat 2025 has been postponed and rescheduled for January 10, 2026.
In case you miss this opportunity or the Delhi people looking for quick discounts; Challan Day is the saviour. Yes, organised by Park+ twice a month, this one-day event aims at helping people settle their e-Challan by offering them 50% off on the legal fee.
Act smartly and settle your pending traffic challans at the earliest. Moreover, ensure to go through the new traffic rule 2025 and adhere to it to avoid getting penalised with traffic violation tickets.
The road ahead
Under the Stockholm Declaration, the Government of India aims to reduce road fatalities & injuries by 50% by the year 2030. For this, the governments are adopting new measures such as issuing ITMS challan, incorporating surveillance cameras, etc., to achieve this goal. Drivers are asked to strictly follow the traffic rules not only to avoid traffic fines but also to ensure their safety and that of the people on the road. Further, they are also advised to check the authenticity of the violation ticket by going to echallan Parivahan website or Park+.