Wrong-Side Driving Crackdown: 154 FIRs Filed Across Delhi In Just 17 days
Delhi Police have thrown the rulebook at wrong-side drivers, registering 154 FIRs in just 17 days since January 3. The crackdown, which covers the period until January 19, represents the first time the force has used criminal provisions to tackle what was previously treated as a traffic violation.
Until last month, driving against traffic flow cost you Rs 5,000 for the first offence and Rs 10,000 for repeats. That clearly was not enough. Last year, police issued over 305,000 challans for wrong-side driving, up from 240,000 in 2024. The numbers kept climbing, and so did the accidents.
Now, under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rash driving, officers can register a criminal case. The provision carries a maximum six-month prison term, a fine of Rs 1,000, or both. While the offence is bailable, the process is designed to be inconvenient. Your vehicle gets seized on the spot, and you must visit the police station and later the court to secure bail and retrieve your vehicle.
South, Southwest, and New Delhi districts have emerged as the worst hotspots. Vasant Kunj leads the pack with 10 FIRs registered across its north and south police stations. The Tilak Marg area in New Delhi saw five cases, highlighting how congested commercial zones become breeding grounds for such violations.
Two-wheelers account for the majority of offenders. Last year, they drew over 200,000 of the 305,000 challans issued. Private cars come next, followed by auto-rickshaws and light commercial vehicles like Tata Ace and pickup trucks. The pattern reveals that the problem cuts across vehicle categories and economic backgrounds.
Traffic personnel on the ground now have the authority to call local police stations via the emergency 112 number and convert complaints into FIRs. The first case was filed on January 3 at Delhi Cantonment against a driver from Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Since then, cases have been registered almost daily across multiple districts.
Police stress that FIRs target only serious violations that endanger lives, could cause accidents, or create major congestion. Minor infractions or genuine mistakes due to poor signage still attract challans. The approach is selective, not blanket enforcement. Over 25,000 notices have been served alongside the 154 FIRs since January 1, maintaining the focus on compliance through awareness and fines.
If you are caught driving on the wrong side in a manner that poses risk, expect immediate vehicle seizure and a trip to the police station. The case proceeds through the criminal justice system, meaning court appearances and legal formalities. The message is clear: the Rs 5,000 fine era is over for serious violations.
The crackdown has already yielded broader enforcement benefits. Police report catching several drivers without valid licences or pollution-under-control certificates during these stops, strengthening overall traffic discipline. With over 154 FIRs in 17 days and the count rising, Delhi Police have made it obvious that wrong-side driving will cost more than money - it will cost time, convenience, and potentially freedom.