Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: On an average, 92 people are prosecuted daily for using mobile phones while driving in the city, Delhi Police data from Jan till March has revealed.
Till March this year, 8,264 challans were issued for the offence. In 2024, a total of 42,663 challans were issued while 19,422 fines were imposed in 2023.
“Using a mobile phone while driving constitutes dangerous driving and is, therefore, a punishable offence under Section 184 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. It has now become a significant menace to safe driving on Delhi’s roads,” said an officer.
According to police, people caught using their phones while driving often come up with excuses. “Some claim they were checking the time while others say they were on an emergency call. A few flatly deny using their phones,” said the officer.
During a recent meeting at police HQ, it was decided to intensify the drive in the coming days. Emphasising the dangers of using mobile phones while driving, special commissioner of police (traffic) Ajay Chaudhary said it can lead to serious accidents and cause unnecessary trouble.
“We regularly launch public awareness campaigns to educate people about the risks associated with phone usage while driving. Our dedicated teams consistently conduct surprise checks to crack down on this menace and prosecute offenders accordingly,” he added.
Chaudhary said they are committed to ensuring road safety and minimising accidents caused by distracted driving. By combining awareness campaigns with strict enforcement, the authorities aim to promote responsible driving habits among the public and make the city’s roads safer for everyone, he added.
“We have deployed our personnel at various spots, where they catch offenders and issue challans. People also help us by sending photos and videos of violations through the Prahari app,” said deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Rajeev Kumar.
According to experts, even a one-second distraction while driving can lead to an accident. In India, where the roads are chaotic and the right of way for both pedestrians and vehicles is almost non-existent, the risk of accidents is much higher than in the developed world.
Rohit Baluja, president, Institute of Road Traffic Education, pointed out that phone usage by not just drivers, but also by pedestrians and those operating non-motorised vehicles like carts and rickshaws can also lead to accidents. But, under the law, they cannot be held accountable. Baluja advocated for punitive action in such cases too. People also need to be made aware of the dangers of using their phones while driving and the potential consequences of becoming responsible for someone’s death, he added.
Mayank Rawat
