New Delhi: On Monday, three people, including a woman and her daughter-in-law, were mowed down by a truck near Vasant Kunj. This was not an isolated incident, as trucks have been on a rampage in the city through the year.
Police data, accessed by TOI, reveals a staggering jump in the number of violations by trucks in 2024 compared to 2023, underscoring the need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and regulations. Till Dec 10 this year, 55,048 challans were issued by traffic police to truck drivers, up from 28,422 challans last year.
The challans were for more than 50 types of violations. A breakdown reveals some alarming trends. For instance, dangerous driving accounted for 3,039 challans this year, a significant increase from 981 in 2023. Police said the rise in reckless driving incidents is a major concern, as it puts not only the drivers, but also other road users, at the risk of serious injury or death. Data shows that at least 162 fatal accidents were caused by trucks in 2024.
Similarly, the number of challans for violating restrictions on entry also went up this year, to 8,709 from 6,196 cases last year. Another major concern was the large number of challans issued for violations related to registration certificate (RC) this year — 7,024 — compared to just 742 in 2023. Also, 7,371 challans were issued for carrying oversized loads and protruding rods, a substantial increase from 2,580 last year. Improper and obstructive parking was another common offence, with 3,734 trucks challaned this year, compared to 3,008 last year.
Other major offences included driving without reflectors (3,075 challans), up from 2,165 last year; using defective or fancy number plates (3,399), up from 516; and driving without a licence (2,625), up from 1,215.
Permit violations also saw a significant increase, with 2,490 challans issued this year, compared to 913 in 2023. Also, 2,265 challans were issued for allowing unauthorised persons to drive, up from 1,103 last year.
Additionally, 1,782 challans were issued for PUC violations, a significant increase from 730 last year. Lastly, 1,155 challans were issued for hiding number plates, a huge jump from 133 in 2023.
A senior police officer highlighted the inherent risks associated with prosecuting truck drivers, often characterised by negligent driving. “While attempting to halt these vehicles, there’s a significant risk of them striking police personnel,” he said, adding, “To mitigate this danger, we employ proper barricading and reflective markers, signalling the drivers to stop with hand gestures from the side. We strictly avoid approaching these vehicles from the front.”
The officer said there had been several instances where trucks had collided with cops or people.
Special commissioner of police (traffic) Ajay Choudhary said police are taking a proactive approach to tackle the menace, deploying dedicated teams at the borders to monitor truck drivers flouting traffic rules. “The teams are tasked with checking trucks and their drivers, ensuring they comply with all relevant traffic regulations. If any violations are detected, the drivers are promptly prosecuted, serving as a deterrent to others,” he said.
