Srinagar, Apr 3: In a startling revelation that highlights the rampant traffic violations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Traffic Police Department has disclosed collecting a massive Rs 117 crore in fines from errant motorists and pedestrians over the past five years from 2019 to 2023.
However, the department does not have a single ambulance under its command across the entire J&K.
The staggering amount of fines collected was shared by the Traffic Department in response to an RTI query filed by activist M M Shuja.
When asked about the number of ambulances under its control, the Traffic Police admitted to not having any emergency medical vehicles at its disposal.
The year-wise breakdown reveals a persistent pattern of flouting traffic rules by a significant section of the populace.
In 2023 so far, the department has issued fines worth Rs 21.4 crore to violators.
The numbers were even higher in 2022 at Rs 34 crore as authorities intensified the crackdown on violations.
The preceding years saw similar trends, with Rs 25 crore collected in 2021, Rs 19 crore in 2020, and Rs 17.4 crore in 2019 – pointing to deeply entrenched practices of reckless and unlawful behaviour on J&K’s roads.
Common traffic offences that contributed to the hefty penalties include speeding, reckless driving, running red lights, unauthorised parking, and other violations that jeopardize public safety by disrupting traffic flow and endangering lives.
Tragically, this cavalier attitude towards traffic rules has had devastating consequences.
J&K has witnessed a horrifying toll of 4251 road accident fatalities over the past five years, with the National Highway and Chenab Valley emerging as particularly treacherous zones.
On average, two individuals have lost their lives daily due to road accidents in the union territory since 2019, a stark reminder of the dire need for stringent safety measures.
The crucial Srinagar-Jammu National Highway alone has accounted for a staggering number of these fatalities.
While the issue has plagued the entire J&K, the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and Chenab Valley have borne a disproportionate brunt of the tragic toll.
The deadly trend persists, with 55 persons dead in 398 accidents across J&K until January 2023 alone.
Last year saw 893 lives lost in 6298 road accidents and 8469 injuries.
In 2022, there were 805 fatalities in 6092 accidents with 8372 injured.
The toll stood at 774 killed and 5894 injured in 4860 accidents in 2021.
Even the COVID-19 pandemic year of 2020 witnessed 728 road accident deaths and 5894 injuries in 4860 accidents, while a staggering 996 lives were lost in 5796 accidents in 2019, with 7532 individuals injured.