Over Rs 12,000 crore worth of traffic fines were issued across India in 2024, but nearly Rs 9,000 crore—a staggering 75% of the total—remains unpaid, according to the latest challan report by autotech firm Cars24
Titled ‘The Great Indian Challan Crisis’, the report highlights that over 8 crore challans were issued last year, with almost every second vehicle on the road fined at least once. Of these, 55% were issued to four-wheelers, while the remaining 45% were to two-wheelers.
This distribution highlights how violations occur across all types of vehicles, cities, and income groups. It shows that no single category is solely responsible, and the problem is widespread. Despite the presence of stringent regulations, enforcement remains weak, resulting in persistent non-compliance
“The data points to a system where penalties exist on paper, but deterrence remains weak. Rs 12,000 crore in fines isn’t just a financial figure, it is a mirror that reflects on how often and easily traffic laws are broken across the country,” Cars24 said in a statement.
Gurugram issued approximately 4,500 challans every day, whereas Noida accumulated over Rs 3 lakh in challans in a month—entirely for helmet violations, according to the report.
Many Indian drivers perceive the rules of the road as optional until they notice visible enforcement, said the challan report, based on interviews of 1,000 Indians during the January-December 2024 period.
While 43.9% stated they comply with traffic rules irrespective of police presence, 31.2% look out for the police now and then before adjusting their driving. 17.6% actively monitor their surroundings and adjust to avoid fines, it said.
“Every traffic violation is a silent vote against civic order. If we want safer cities, we need a cultural shift from compliance out of fear to responsibility out of pride,” Cars24 Co-Founder Gajendra Jangid said.
From overloaded trucks to helmetless riders, extreme cases underline an increasing indifference for rules, the report noted.
In Gurugram, the local administration collected up to Rs 10 lakh per day via traffic fines, issuing over 4,500 challans every day.
Noida issued challans of Rs 3 lakh in a single month for helmet violations alone, signalling the fact that even the most basic safety norms are ignored en masse, the report pointed out.
