New device to curb traffic violations

Delhi police’s traffic division has procured a new equipment that can read number plates of vehicles and raise an alarm if the system found that the vehicle has a pending challan. Immediately the chase and challan squad will chase down the vehicle and impose further fine.

The equipment consists of video cameras which automatically record number plate data and transfer it to a central database. The instrument can either be mounted on a vehicle or can be stationary, Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) told Deccan Herald.

“Field trials of the system were completed and we are satisfied with it,” said the officer.

As soon as the traffic police impose fine on a vehicle, they will enter the particular vehicle number in the computer. Once the violator pays the fine amount, his vehicles number will be deleted from the computer. The system was procured to warn vehicle owners that they should not ignore the challan issued by the police and pay it on time, he said.

The police are also planning to impose a fine of Rs 1,000 on motorists if they failed to carry vehicle’s insurance papers. This move was to ensure that accidents victims get their due. According to the police, many times victims of major accidents cannot file claims as they do not have the requisite papers.

The police in the national capital always looking for new ways to handle traffic chaos. Recently they opened Facebook account — Delhi Traffic Police — which was a huge hit with more than 50,000 members. The social networking site has provided a platform for the public to air their complaints as well as upload photographs of vehicles offending traffic rules.

As per the Road Accidents in India-2008 report prepared by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Delhi which has over 40 lakh vehicles, had witnessed 8,435 accidents in 2008, which was highest in the country. In 2008, 2,093 people were killed and 7,343 injured in road accidents in the city.