Mumbai: Over 10,000 FIRs Registered In City For Rash Driving In 2024; ₹526 Crore In Penalties Imposed On Errant Motorists
Mumbai: Mumbai witnessed a sharp rise in legal action against rash and negligent driving in 2024, with over 10,000 first information reports (FIRs) filed across city police stations, a staggering increase compared to just 404 FIRs registered in 2023. The data, released by the Mumbai Traffic Police, reflects an aggressive crackdown on traffic violations under the amended Motor Vehicles Act.
Details On FIRs Registered
Of the total FIRs in 2024, 8,588 were registered under IPC sections 279 (rash driving) and 336 (endangering life), while 582 cases also included section 337 (causing hurt), and 1,628 cases invoked section 338 (causing grievous hurt). The surge in legal action follows a systematic policy adopted over the past two years, where rash driving offences are now treated as serious criminal acts requiring court appearances.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare, while speaking to Hindustan Times stated that after FIRs are filed, the offenders’ driving licences are either suspended or revoked, depending on the severity of the case. He pointed to areas like Sakinaka, Chakala, Powai, Nagpada, the Western Express Highway and Oshiwara as hotspots for dangerous driving patterns.
The rise in FIRs can be traced back to 2022, when former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pande initiated strict enforcement measures. Under his direction, motorists found driving on the wrong side or recklessly were booked under the Indian Penal Code, their vehicles impounded, and they were produced in court. This enforcement continued under later leadership, further bolstered by the 2019 Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, notified by Maharashtra in 2021, which made several offences non-compoundable and punishable with jail terms or higher fines.
Despite the increased legal action, traffic police sources admit that reckless driving incidents have not seen a major decline. This underlines the challenge of changing driver behaviour in a densely populated, fast-moving city like Mumbai.
Over ₹500 Cr In Penalties Imposed
In addition to FIRs, the traffic police penalised over 6.5 million motorists in 2024 for various traffic violations, imposing penalties amounting to Rs 526 crore. However, only Rs 157 crore of this amount was recovered. Violations ranged across 26 categories and were enforced through the city’s 41 traffic divisions and multimedia monitoring systems.
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