Gujarat : 447 Licenses Suspended For Traffic Violations in other states

Ahmedabad : Hit the brakes, Ahmedabad drivers! In a crackdown on reckless driving across state borders, the Ahmedabad Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Gujarat has suspended the licenses of a whopping 447 vehicle owners for violating traffic rules in other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra.

This stringent action follows a surge in applications received from government offices over the past year, highlighting a concerning trend of Ahmedabad residents disregarding traffic laws outside their home state.

“We’ve observed a worrying pattern of Ahmedabad drivers flouting traffic rules when they cross state lines,” stated a senior transport officer.  “This puts not just themselves but also other road users at risk. Therefore, we’ve taken decisive steps to deter such behavior by suspending licenses based on applications from other states.”

The crackdown forms part of a broader effort to improve road safety in Ahmedabad. From January to December 2023, the RTO suspended a total of 856 licenses for various traffic violations within and outside Gujarat.

Drink and drive offenses topped the list with 31 cases, followed by over speeding (377), overloading (1), accidents (292), triple riding (2), helmetless driving (67), red light jumping (3), mobile phone use while driving (5), and driving on the wrong side (56). Notably, 75% of the suspended drivers were car owners.

The RTO has also proactively sought information under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to identify violators. Data from three key traffic junctions – Subhash Bridge, Vastral, and Bavala – revealed 120 women drivers among the offenders, primarily for wrong-side driving and speeding. Adding to the concern, the RTO identified 135 out-of-state drivers who violated traffic rules within Ahmedabad city. For these individuals, the RTO has forwarded recommendations to their respective state RTOs for license suspension.

“We’re committed to ensuring safe roads for all citizens,” said a Regional Transport Officer. “This crackdown serves as a strong message that traffic rules apply everywhere, regardless of state boundaries. We urge all drivers to prioritize responsible behavior and follow traffic regulations for their own safety and that of others.”