Vadodara: The city has long prided itself on being “Sanskari Nagari” — the cultural capital of Gujarat. But on its roads, that image is increasingly being dented by motorists who brazenly flout traffic rules.From triple riding and helmetless driving to jumping signals and driving on the wrong side, reckless behaviour has become a common sight.The lawlessness and disregard for rules are reflected in traffic police data, which reveal a massive rise in violations in 2025 compared to the previous year. The scale of violations is so staggering that the number of traffic challans issued in the city has tripled in just two years.This comes despite a grim toll on the city’s roads — over 250 people have died in fatal accidents in the last two years, while hundreds more have been injured. Yet reckless driving continues unabated, endangering lives every day.According to data shared by the traffic police, over 1.78 lakh challans were issued in 2024. The number shot up dramatically to 6.53 lakh challans in 2025 in city areas.However, police said the surge reflects both stricter enforcement and a growing tendency among motorists to ignore traffic rules. Authorities have been conducting regular safe-driving awareness campaigns, but officials admit that these efforts appear to have had limited impact on public behaviour.“Violations peak during rush hours. Over-speeding, changing lanes without signalling, jumping red lights and driving on the wrong side are among the major causes of accidents,” said D M Vyas, ACP (Traffic), Vadodara.Police issue both on-the-spot challans and e-challans generated through CCTV surveillance across the city. Officials said two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets and car drivers not wearing seatbelts account for the majority of violations, followed by reckless driving.The growing menace has prompted police commissioner Narasimha Komar to personally lead safe-driving awareness drives on city roads, urging motorists to follow traffic rules. The campaign has particularly emphasised helmet use among two-wheeler riders to reduce fatalities in accidents. Residents say the situation on city roads has become alarming. “It’s scary to drive these days. Despite CCTV cameras at many junctions, people casually drive on the wrong side or jump red signals without any fear,” said a city resident. Police have intensified action against motorists not wearing helmets or seatbelts, driving recklessly, or failing to carry proper documents. Officials also flagged auto-rickshaw drivers as a major contributor to the chaos. Apart from haphazard parking, many are found overloading their vehicles with passengers, further adding to unsafe traffic conditions.
