At least 88 people lost their lives, and over 1,000 sustained injuries in road accidents across Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts in Jammu during the first seven months of this year. This alarming statistic prompted Traffic Police Rural Jammu to target two-wheeler violations—responsible for 44 percent of these accidents—by orchestrating a focused awareness drive, resulting in 8,675 fines issued, authorities stated on Tuesday.
The proactive campaign, which ran from September 1 to September 14, emerged from a thorough analysis of accident data that spotlighted the critical role of two-wheelers in road accidents throughout the four districts. A spokesperson from the Traffic Police Rural Jammu emphasized the need for such measures: “With two-wheelers accounting for nearly half of the accidents, it is crucial to enforce traffic regulations more stringently and create public awareness about road safety.”
An analysis conducted from January 1 to July 31 revealed that a total of 699 accidents occurred, leading to 88 fatalities and injuries to 1,001 individuals. Notably, two-wheeler incidents comprised 309 of those accidents, a staggering 44 percent of the total.
According to the data, two-wheelers were involved in 39 fatal accidents and led to 384 injuries. The campaign highlighted 144 single-vehicle accidents specifically involving two-wheelers.
Traffic Police recorded that on National Highways, 102 accidents (41 percent) involved two-wheelers, while on other roads, 210 accidents (47 percent) were linked to these vehicles. A concerning 27 percent of accident victims fell below the age of 26 years, underscoring the need for youth-focused traffic safety initiatives.
The findings prompted Traffic Police Rural Jammu to spearhead a comprehensive awareness and enforcement campaign across all four districts. The team facilitated numerous awareness activities while rigorously cracking down on traffic violators.
During this drive, authorities issued a notable total of 8,675 challans. Among those, 5,767 riders received penalties for failing to wear helmets, while 1,152 pillion riders were also fined for the same reason. Moreover, another 1,106 violations stemmed from triple riding on two-wheelers.
In addition, officers took action against 188 riders for using mobile phones while driving, 260 for dangerous driving practices, and 146 individuals who operated their vehicles without a valid license. Three minors were apprehended for illegally riding two-wheelers, resulting in the seizure of their vehicles. Overall, 187 vehicles faced seizure for various traffic infractions during the campaign.
To further drive home the importance of road safety, Traffic Police conducted 267 awareness programmes at educational institutions, tuition centers, bus stands, playgrounds, libraries, and other public areas. These programmes aimed to educate the community, particularly the youth, on road safety norms and the Motor Vehicles Act.
In Rajouri and Poonch, road safety counseling sessions took on a unique approach. Officers set up dedicated canopies to engage with road users in an interactive setting. This initiative operated under a novel concept called “no-challan, only counseling,” allowing individuals to receive guidance on helmet use, traffic discipline, and safe driving practices without the fear of fines.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic Rural Jammu, Farooq Qaiser, indicated that similar special operations targeting other vehicle categories, including Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), will follow shortly. He urged all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic laws and the Motor Vehicles Act, cautioning that law enforcement will continue to apply stringent measures for violators to ensure public safety.
