Traffic fines are fine, but governance will get better results

A lot has been said about the recent Motor Vehicles Amendment that imposes much stricter fines for traffic violations on 63 different clauses.

The cynics have put it down as a measure for the Govt of India to make up for the fiscal deficit (really get ₹7 trillion worth of traffic fines); to distract people from the slowing economy; or to even help the traffic cops earn a little more (inflation is high, after all🙂). The actual reasons are to make roads safer and reduce the number of accidents (India has about 5L reported traffic accidents annually, with 3L victims suffering grievous injuries, and about 1.5L succumbing), as stated by the Hon Minister a few days ago. 

My view is that it is indeed a good, and a long overdue, measure to reign in the wannabe World Rally Champion, and politically well connected, drivers on Indian roads, who when caught, will always start the conversation with the traffic cop by pulling out their mobile phones "Tu jaanta hai mai kaun hoon?"

The initial 11 days have seen changes in the behavior: vehicles actually stopping a) at a traffic light b) behind the stop line c) wearing seat belts.  The conversations at various gatherings are themselves a reflecting of the fear the increased penalties have imposed. 

However, there are some low hanging fruits that the Govt can implement immediately, that may have a much faster and direct benefit: 

• From a governance perspective, ensure transparency on how the fines collected are spent - the primary objectives should be to reduce the lunar surface type nature of most roads (best communicated by the artist in this video)
• Ensure really strong consequences if the enforcing authorities (aka traffic cops) take bribes - no questions asked; in addition, rules like these, where the enforcers walk the talk, definitely create better understanding
• Define what is rash driving and overloading so that there is no subjectivity; and communicate the rules again and again
• Ensure lane driving, and at the right speeds, keeping the overtaking lane free (where available).  Someone may debate that with the heterogeneous nature of vehicles we have, this may be difficult - but then ensure that 4 wheelers which can actually go at the defined speed, are fined for being slower
• Increase speed limits to be more reasonable - how many of you have tried to drive at 30 kmph (yes, there is a section on the Outer Ring Road in Panchsheel in Delhi, by the Order of NGT), or even at 50 kmph when the road is a major arterial road? Make this 65 kmph. Reduce time on road, save fuel, and people will not feel the need to violate the rule!  For example, where I stay in Gurgaon, when the speed limit was increased from 50 to 70 kmph, adherence went up and the traffic cops disappeared (hopefully to manage smoother flow of traffic at critical junctions)
• States NOT be allowed the liberty of reducing fines in about 24 clauses of the 63 amended (Gujarat, Tamil Nadu have already stated they will soon have lower fines)
• Violaters should also be made to go to mandatory traffic school, and made to listen to the stories of lives lost

My recommendation is to use the collected funds (the state Govt coffers are filling up, with over ₹70L claimed by Bangalore in 6 days, and ₹1.4Cr by Haryana and Odisha) to increase intelligent traffic enforcement, thus ensuring undisputable proof (no more "Tu jaanta hai mai kaun hoon?") and the fines going for the actual purpose intended.  And make the lives of traffic policemen more stress free.  

There can never be a perfect world, but the initial signs of changes in people behavior are positive.  This could very well be a much needed point of inflection, and in a few months, we may reach an improved threshold of traffic discipline.  Hopefully, the Govt will not have to look at this as the...

Image source

Till then, follow every traffic rule.