Next year, the Mumbai traffic police will not just come down heavy on rash or drunken driving and over-speeding, but there’s also going to be an intensive crackdown on those who honk.
“Having apprehended 21,531 offenders for honking cases till November 2011, the traffic police is planning to intensify their campaign against the offenders who honk,” warned joint commissioner of police (traffic) Vivek Phansalkar.
He added that the traffic police recovered a total fine of Rs14.48 lakh from these offenders.
Along with drives against drunken driving, rash driving and speeding, the campaign against honking started in June 2007. In the past five years (till November 2011), the traffic police caught a total of 1,73,326 offenders and recovered Rs1.03 crore from them, said the police.
In 2009, honking cases peaked with 7,7163 motorists being booked by the traffic police and Rs46 lakh was collected from them. In 2008, 37,120 offenders were caught and a fine of Rs21.78 lakh was recovered. Last year, 32,595 motorists were booked and Rs18.84 lakh was collected.
The police said cases of honking decreased due to their aggressive drive against the offenders.
Phansalkar pointed out that motorists were being sensitised through public awareness campaigns and exhibitions periodically with the help of NGOs and college and school students with an aim to create awareness.
