Citizen-led enforcement sees about 40,000 traffic challans in less than 4 years in Chandigarh

In this citizen-driven enforcement, strikingly, female riders were seen violating helmet-wearing rule substantially more than their male counterparts with 1,406 challans via social media (total 1,625) and 6,855 (total 13,594) through complaints on WhatsApp, in less than four years.

The initiative, part of the revamped Traffic Sentinel scheme, allows residents to capture and share images or videos of offenders, ensuring stricter road discipline across the city.

According to the data, a total of 9,333 challans were issued in 2022, 11,802 in 2023, 7,206 in 2024, and 5,714 till September 14 this year through WhatsApp submissions.

In complaints via Whatsapp, helmetless riding continues to dominate violations, with 4,600 challans in 2022, 5,030 in 2023, 2,086 in 2024 and 1,878 till September 14 this year.

Meanwhile, 2022 saw 2,185 challans issued on the basis of social media complaints. Helmetless riding dominated the category, with 574 men and 306 women challaned, while zebra crossing violations (519 cases) and wrong parking (362 cases) were also widely reported. The following year, 2023, the total dropped to 1,341 challans, though helmetless riding remained rampant, with 387 men and 294 women penalised. Zebra crossing violations came down to 193, but they still represented one of the most common offences.

In 2024, the tally rose again to 1,441 challans, with women riders without helmets making up the single largest category at 570 cases — nearly 40 per cent of the total. That year also saw consistent reports on social medial platforms of triple riding, wrong-side driving, and zebra crossing violations.

By September 14, 2025, the police had already acted on 985 complaints received via social media. Helmetless riding again dominated, with 291 men and 236 women booked. Alarmingly, the misuse of cycle tracks and footpaths saw a sharp rise, with 130 cases reported this year compared to just 35 in 2024. Red-light jumping too climbed, with 36 cases recorded in 2025, more than thrice the numbers of the previous year.

Overall, helmetless riding remains the single largest violation, with 3,031 challans issued in less than four years. Zebra-crossing violations follow with 947 cases, while 635 instances of wrong parking have also been reported. Driving on cycle tracks and footpaths, a relatively newer problem, has touched 286 cases in total, though its spike in 2025 with 130 challans has raised alarm bells. Other violations include 251 triple riding cases, 113 red light jumps, 386 miscellaneous offences such as faulty number plates and dangerous U-turns, along with 50 cases of mobile phone use while driving and seatbelt non-compliance.

“The public’s active participation has ensured violators are caught in real time, and the alertness is helping police challaning the violators,” a senior traffic police officer said.

Meanwhile, Ranjit Kaur, a resident of Sector 47, said she often shares photos of violators on Instagram.

“It takes just a few seconds to click and upload. If someone is risking lives by breaking rules, why should we ignore it,” she asked.

Nitin Aggarwal, a commuter from Panchkula, said the fear of being captured by a passer-by’s phone has changed road behaviour. “This is like crowdsourced policing. People now know they are being watched not just by CCTV cameras or police patrols but also by fellow citizens with smartphones.”

With close to 6,000 challans generated in under four years through social media, the message is loud and clear — traffic violators in the city can be caught anytime, anywhere, not only by the police but also by vigilant residents, a police official added.