Nagpur: Despite stringent orders from the High Court and assertive claims by the City Traffic Police, wrong-side driving remains a persistent and hazardous nuisance on the streets of Nagpur.
A tragic incident on June 17 underscored the severity of the problem when two Army jawans were killed on the Kanhan River bridge. The auto-rickshaw they were travelling in was struck by a private bus driving on the wrong side of the bridge, illustrating the life-threatening consequences of this dangerous practice.
From January 1 to May 31 this year, Nagpur has recorded 12 accidents due to wrong-side driving, resulting in three fatalities and nine serious injuries. Every day, 23 motorists are caught driving on the wrong side, while countless others evade detection, endangering the lives of fellow road users. The traffic police records for the past five months emphasize the critical role of wrong-side driving in causing road mishaps.
In response to this menace, the traffic police initiated several measures. Notably, Nagpur became the first city in Maharashtra to file FIRs instead of imposing fines against motorists driving on the wrong side. This led to a significant increase in the number of challans issued: from 3,957 in 2022 to 6,554 in 2023. In the first five months of 2024 alone, 3,441 motorists were penalized for this serious offense.
Data from the DCP (Traffic) reveals that motorists in the Sadar Zone exhibit the highest disregard for the prohibition on wrong-side driving, with 892 motorists booked, followed by Lakadganj Zone with 515 cases. Since March 4, over 450 FIRs have been filed to deter violators, compelling them to appear in court to secure bail. Despite these measures, the problem persists.
Zone-Wise breakdown
• Sadar Zone: Highest violations with 892 cases.
• Lakadganj Zone: Second highest with 515 cases.
• MIDC Traffic Zone: Relatively lower incidence with 43 cases.
• Ajni Traffic Zone: Also lower incidence with 66 cases.
Despite these efforts, wrong-side driving on city roads has increased manifold. Experts criticize the current measures, pointing out that wrong-side driving is a major factor contributing to the rising number of accidents in the city. They advocate for a sustained and intensified drive against this dangerous behaviour.
Experts also highlight that many motorists take the wrong side even at busy intersections to avoid lengthy U-turns, leading to frequent minor accidents. With insufficient police presence to deter offenders, these violations continue unabated.
In their bid to save time and fuel, violators endanger not only their own lives but also those of other road users. The urgent need for more effective and sustained enforcement measures is clear as Nagpur grapples with this ongoing traffic challenge.
