State transport ministry on Friday gave its stamp to a hike in fines for road related offences. The fines arrived at are steeper than the ones in existence, but lower than what was originally proposed. For instance, the fine for riding without helmet was reduced from Rs 1,000 to Rs 500 while the fine for using a mobile while driving was scaled down from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,000 for the first violation. A hike in fines is long overdue as the present regime is having a negligible effect on motorists who readily pay and scoot. Every year the traffic
police book an enormous number of motorists for various offences,
but offences continue and there appears to be no fear
of the law or fines. Steeper fines will go a long way in bringing
a semblance of order in the traffic system. However, steeper
fines need to be backed by firm implementation of the law.
The technology-based solutions available to the government
and the traffic department could have been used to create better
ways to monitor motorists. Unfortunately, the department
appears to be reluctant to use the same. The State and country
needs to gradually move to a system that combines the best of
instinctive and rule-based driving because excessive freedom
is the reason for chaos on the roads.
