Flouting traffic norms in a country habitually prone to breaking or bypassing rules is really no big deal. Some may have been caught once or twice while many may have been spared for the simple reason that they may have slipped passed the traffic cops while they challaned someone else. But now, this frequent violation of traffic rules is likely to cost more for the offender in you.
The Delhi Traffic Police is planning to come down heavily on those who are frequently nabbed violating regulations. This time, the department has asked for the insurance companies’ support to handle miscreants on roads. If this proposal comes into effect, those caught will have to pay larger amount of insurance premium on renewal or be denied insurance cover in extreme cases. The ambitious plan is in line with norms followed internationally. However, insurance agencies and car owners question the implementation of such a proposal.
“This is not an easy thing to implement because there are so many loopholes,” says Jaswinder, an insurance broker. “Instead, there should be CCTVs at every crossing of the City and secondly, the police must ensure high security number plates in every car so that they can easily catch offenders,” he says.
The ACP (Traffic) Anil Shukla had recently mentioned that the, “Plan would come into existence after the e-challan system becomes functional in April. The traffic police will send details of violators and their vehicle registration number to insurance companies, who in turn might refuse insurance to ‘high-risk drivers’ or charge more premium against them.”
Stating a few facts where people can easily dodge the police and can escape the heavy premium, Jaswinder says, “It is possible that people will switch over from one insurance company to another especially when there are so many private companies in the market.”
Pointing to a flaw in the proposal, he says, “Traffic police can collaborate with only government run insurance companies while private companies may not agree out of fear of losing their customers. As per news reports, the decision to cooperate with the police will lie with the insurance company.”
Interestingly, imposing larger amounts of insurance premium is a common practice in developed countries.
The entire history of those found frequently violating traffic norms is collated and details forwarded to insurance companies, which in turn charge heavy premiums.
But there are those who disagree with the process itself. “Why is traffic police taking inspiration from the Western laws where people, unlike India, are educated and aware of traffic rules and regulations,” asks Vandana M, a senior accounts manager in a private firm. “The traffic police are still struggling to identify those who are running vehicles with tinted glasses. It is a big question as to how they will be able to keep a tab on every car user?”
Pointing out that unless a complete database is in place, this could prove to be a Herculean task for the traffic police. Says Vandana, “The database will have to be the backbone for making this
proposal successful or else it is likely to gather dust like
other plans.”