Nashik: Despite innumerable awareness programmes, an increasing number of motorists continue to flout the traffic rules, endangering their own lives and that of other commuters.Violations of various traffic rules in city have increased by over 35,000 between January and September this year as compared to the corresponding period last year. Statistics from the traffic police department show that over 1.53 lakh violations were reported in the first nine months this year compared to over 1.28 lakh during the same period last year.Also, 150 people, including pedestrians, had lost their lives in 145 road accidents during the same period this year. Last year, 129 people died in 120 accidents. The traffic police have collected total fine of Rs 3.46 crore, a rise of Rs 22 lakh compared to the corresponding period last year.The three biggest violations this year are illegal parking of vehicles, not wearing seat belts while driving four-wheelers and helmet-less driving of two-wheelers.City police commissioner Ravinder Singal told TOI, “Despite our best efforts, there is a section of motorists who continue to violate rules. I feel that they are still not aware of the imperative need to follow traffic rules to make the city roads safer.”Traffic police attributed the rise in the number of cases to increased vigil on the roads, especially during the peak traffic hours. Sources said that mostly youth are caught breaking the traffic rules, especially the students, who refrain from wearing helmets.The police officials said that parents of such students must ensure that their children wear helmets for their own safety. Of late, the traffic police have been undertaking special drives near educational institutes to nab the students who violate the traffic rules in the city.Singal said the traffic police will continue to catch the violators and penalise them. “However, just penalising these offenders is not the solution to overcome this serious issue. There must be more to it so that these motorists do not dare to break traffic rules,” he added.Deputy commissioner of police Laxmikant Patil said they were focusing on acting tough on these traffic offenders, especially the students. “We have created enough awareness among the city residents and the students’ fraternity. The traffic police is now concentrating on acting against those breaking the rules,” he added.

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