Mumbai Traffic Police register 343 FIRs in 22-day crackdown on wrong-side driving

The Mumbai Traffic Police registered 343 FIRs and took action against 337 persons during a special drive against wrongside riding and driving that was conducted between July 20 and August 10 highlighting a tougher enforcement approach towards a violation that has emerged as a serious road safety concernThe 22day crackdown comes amid continued largescale violations of basic traffic rules across Mumbai Latest data shared by Mumbai Traffic Police shows that between January 1 and August 10 this year 401889 motorists were booked for riding without helmets while 161609 were penalised for violating noentry and oneway restrictionsAnother 50339 motorists were booked for driving without seatbelts while 23494 cases of riding threeup were detected during the same periodA helmetless youth indulges in wrongside riding in Bandra West File PicAshish RajeA deadly menaceThe decision to launch a special drive against wrongside driving and riding was taken against the backdrop of growing concern over the potentially fatal consequences of motorists driving against the flow of traffic ldquoWrongside driving is not a minor traffic violation It poses a serious risk to motorists and other road users particularly because it can lead to headon collisions The special drive was undertaken to ensure strict action against such dangerous behaviour Motorists must follow traffic rules and avoid taking shortcuts that put lives at riskrdquo a senior traffic police official saidStartling statisticsAcross Maharashtra wrongside driving and riding was linked to 1262 accidents and 460 deaths in 2025 according to state road accident data reported in July The violation frequently results in highspeed headon collisions making it among the most dangerous forms of risky drivingTraffic police officers fine a scooterist for riding in the wrong lane in Tardeo South Mumbai File picShadab KhanEnforcement getting strongerThe Maharashtra data also showed that enforcement against wrongside driving and riding has been rising While 21264 challans were issued for the violation in 2022 the figure rose to 71218 in 2023 stood at 69344 in 2024 and increased to 98005 in 2025 By May 31 this year 52422 cases had already been recorded statewideDespite challans violations continueThe latest figures show that while enforcement continues violations remain widespread The number of helmet violations for instance stood at 892726 in 2024 according to the latest data shared by Mumbai Traffic Police falling to 490919 in 2025 However 401889 cases had already been recorded by August 10 this year Similarly noentry and oneway violations stood at 258291 in 2024 and 209519 in 2025 with 161609 cases recorded by August 10 this yearThe figures for riding threeup were 36994 in 2024 29570 in 2025 and 23494 till August 10 2026Seatbelt violations declined from 290999 in 2024 to 100765 in 2025 with 50339 cases recorded till August 10 this yearSome hotspotsThe Mumbai Traffic Policersquos 2024 eChallan Annual Report shows that traffic violations were not evenly spread across the city with some traffic divisions emerging as major enforcement hotspots The official divisionwise data recorded 5937151 challans across Mumbai in 2024 Among Mumbairsquos traffic divisions Mankhurd recorded the highest number of challans in 2024 at 201239 followed by Bandra with 188528 Samta Nagar with 163694 and Trombay with 158761ExpertspeakTransport analyst AV Shenoy said ldquoWhile registering FIRs against those who drive on the wrong side of the road is a welcome step a more implentative approach would be like what officials do in foreign countries where if the same motorist repeats the offence their licence is suspendedrdquoMajor violation hotspots in 2024Absence of helmetsDindoshi 40852Mulund 34056Kandivli 31751Kanjurmarg 30293NoentryonewayMankhurd 52886Sahar 52054Kandivli 49324Kalbadevi 46086Wrongside drivingChunabhatti 2189Trombay 1602Dindoshi 1554Chembur 1410No seatbeltChunabhatti 23995Kanjurmarg 19204Vikhroli 17514Trombay 12345Source Mumbai Traffic Police eChallan Annual Report 2024Special drive periodJuly 20 to August 10 2026343FIRs registered337No of people penalisedpopcorn number460 descNo of deaths linked to wrongside driving in state in 2025 classDefaultpopcorn number1262 descNo of accidents linked to wrongside driving in state in 2025 classDefault