The report goes beyond the numbers to reveal that traffic violations are not abnormal but regular cultural norms. The challenge was issued last year with over 80 million, almost one car per second. Despite strict regulations, law enforcement lags, and non-compliance still thrives. Data points to systems where punishment exists on paper, but the deterrence remains weak. The fine of Rs 12,000 crore is not only a financial figure, but also a mirror reflecting the frequency and easy traffic laws across the country.
From overload trucks to helmetless riders, the report highlights extreme cases that highlight an increasing number of disregard for rules. A truck owner in Haryana was fined Rs 2,00,500 to reduce 18 tons. A two-wheeler rider in Bangalore has accumulated a fine of Rs 2.91 lakh in 475 violations. In Gurugram, authorities charge Rs 1 million per day through traffic fines, issuing more than 4,500 challenges per day. Noida set out the challenge of INR 3 lakh in just one month, merely a violation of helmets, and even the most basic safety norms have been overlooked.
“Every traffic violation is a silent vote on civil order. If we want a safer city, we need a cultural shift from observing fear to responsibility.” Commented on Gajendra Jangid, co-founder of CARS24
The violation itself shows a worrying pattern. Speeding accounts for nearly 50% of all challenges in all issuances. Following closely behind are violations of helmet or seat belts, obstructive parking and signal jumps that not only violate the law but put countless lives at risk. However, despite these shocking trends, the consequences are often unacceptable. Up to 75% of fines remain unpaid, revealing loopholes in law enforcement and public liability.
But ignoring challenges is no longer risk-free. As the report highlights, non-payment can result in a suspension of driving permits and certificates of registration, hiking on insurance premiums, and even court subpoenas for repeated defaulters. Still, compliance rates are worrying. The problem is no longer the lack of rules, but the urgency of their concern.
Interestingly, the data also refutes the myth that road users are more compliant than the other. 55% of Challans are sent to quad bikes, while the remaining 45% comes from two-wheelers. This near-equality split emphasizes the uncomfortable fact that no one is innocent and violates vehicle types, cities and income groups.
The Challan report from CARS24 calls for urgent reforms in policy and public perception. The company advocates stricter law enforcement mechanisms, more use of technologies such as Challan Systems, which are monitored and automated by AI-AS-Abable, and public awareness of the consequences of non-compliance. But beyond systems and surveillance, what India really needs is a shift in mindset. Driving safely should not respond to penalties; this should reflect responsibility.
The roads in India do not require more challenges. They need more discipline. Violations and dangers will only grow until we share common internalization.
