1,799 vehicles seized, over 3,000 traffic violations detected in Kashmir night drives

1,799 vehicles seized, over 3,000 traffic violations detected in Kashmir night drives
Srinagar, Nov 01: In a major crackdown on traffic violations across Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Police checked more than 2.15 lakh vehicles, seized 1,799 and detected 3,023 violations during a fortnight-long night enforcement campaign, with riding without helmets emerging as the most widespread offence.

Official figures released by Kashmir Zone Police reveal that 1,950 cases of riding without helmets were detected during the drives conducted between October 17 and the intervening night of October 31 and November 1, accounting for nearly 65 per cent of all recorded traffic violations.

The figures point to widespread disregard for basic road safety measures, particularly the use of protective headgear, despite sustained enforcement across the Valley.

According to the police fact sheet, district police units carried out intensive checking between 6 pm and 6 am, focusing on traffic violations, dangerous driving, vehicle seizures and compliance with road safety regulations.

During the reporting period, 2,15,154 vehicles were checked across Kashmir, of which 1,799 were seized for various violations. Police also impounded 68 vehicles registered outside Jammu and Kashmir.

The enforcement data shows that helmetless riding remained the single largest category of violations, followed by rash driving, with 510 cases, accounting for 16.9 per cent of the total.

Another 474 cases of triple riding were detected, constituting 15.7 per cent of all violations, while 12 pressure-horn violations were recorded. Police also seized nine pressure horns during the campaign.

The figures indicate that helmetless riding, rash driving and triple riding together accounted for 2,934 of the 3,023 traffic violations detected, highlighting the concentration of offences in three major categories directly linked to road safety.

Srinagar district recorded the highest number of vehicles checked and seized during the enforcement campaign.

Police checked 74,846 vehicles in Srinagar alone, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of all vehicles inspected across Kashmir. The district also topped the seizure chart with 377 vehicles taken into custody.

Kupwara followed with 316 vehicle seizures, while Anantnag recorded 245, placing the three districts at the top of the enforcement figures.

Together, Srinagar, Kupwara and Anantnag accounted for 938 vehicle seizures, representing more than half of the total seizures reported across the Valley.

However, Anantnag led in a separate category of enforcement measures, recording 390 actions, followed by Ganderbal with 252 and Handwara with 164.

Overall, police reported 1,219 other enforcement actions during the campaign, reflecting the wider scope of the drive beyond the detection of routine traffic offences.

The police assessment identified Srinagar, Kulgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag and Pulwama among the districts showing notable enforcement activity in terms of vehicle checking, seizures and detection of violations.

The scale of the campaign is reflected in the average of more than 13,000 vehicles checked and over 110 vehicles seized per night across Kashmir during the reporting period.

The figures also show that approximately one traffic violation was detected for every 71 vehicles checked, although the number of vehicles seized was substantially higher than the recorded violations, indicating that the two enforcement categories were reported separately.

Police said the sustained night operations were aimed at deterring traffic offenders, strengthening compliance with road safety regulations and reducing dangerous driving practices across the Valley.

The enforcement campaign also brought renewed attention to the continued prevalence of helmetless riding and triple riding, particularly among two-wheeler users, despite repeated awareness campaigns and police action.

While the fact sheet records the scale of checking, violations and seizures, it does not provide a district-wise breakdown of all offences or specify how many seized vehicles were subsequently released.

The Kashmir Zone Police said coordinated enforcement by district police units would remain central to efforts aimed at improving road safety and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations across the region.