Delhi Police has adopted a stricter stance against those violating traffic rules and driving on the wrong side of the road in the capital. In light of the continuous rise in road accidents and the threat to public safety, the traffic police have made a significant change to their policy. Now, instead of merely issuing fines, FIRs are being filed and legal action is being taken directly against offenders.
Current Statistics On FIRs And Fines
According to the Delhi Traffic Police, 124 FIRs have been registered so far for driving on the wrong side of the road, while 25,422 drivers have been fined. The data shows that an average of approximately eight FIRs are being registered daily. According to data from previous years, 306,020 fines were issued for driving on the wrong side of the road in 2025. Of these, more than 200,000 cases involved two-wheeler riders, who were found driving in the wrong direction to save time and take shortcuts. In 2024, fines were issued in 249,244 such cases.
Rising Death Toll Triggers Policy Shift
This change was implemented because over 1,600 people lost their lives in road accidents last year, with the majority of these incidents caused by drivers travelling in the wrong direction. These consistently rising figures serve as a serious warning for road safety. As financial penalties alone were not deterring such negligent drivers, the approach of filing FIRs and taking strict legal action has been adopted.
Official Statement
Danger to Public Safety According to the Special Commissioner of Traffic Police, Neeraj Thakur, driving on the wrong side of the road is extremely dangerous not only for the driver but also for other road users and pedestrians. Frequently, a vehicle approaching at high speed from the wrong direction collides with oncoming traffic, resulting in serious accidents and loss of life and property. The Traffic Department has clarified that stringent action against offenders will continue in the coming days. The objective of the police is not to penalise, but to foster a sense of responsibility for traffic regulations among the public and to make the capital's roads safer.
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Wrong-Way Driving Fines And Road Accidents In Delhi
| Vehicle | Year 2024 | Year 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Two-wheeler | 1,66,023 | 2,20,018 |
| Auto rickshaw | 13,427 | 14,574 |
| E-rickshaw | 12,366 | 14,806 |
| Bus | 749 | 626 |
| Car | 37,597 | 35,799 |
| Commercial vehicles | 8,671 | 9,545 |
| Rural Services | 100 | 182 |
| Heavy goods vehicle | 10,198 | 9,917 |
| Tractor | 21 | 22 |
| Other | 92 | 531 |
Areas With The Highest Incidence Of Wrong-Way Driving
- Daryaganj to Lal Qila
- Delhi Gate Chowk
- Kamla Market to Asaf Ali Road
- Rajghat towards Delhi Gate
- Delhi University to Mukherjee Nagar
- Modi Mill Flyover to Okhla Phase 3
- Ring Road to Vinobapuri Metro Station
- Okhla Underpass to Mohan Estate
- Govindpuri Metro Station to Guru Ravidas Marg
- AIIMS Underpass from South Ex Part 2 to Part 1
Road Accident Deaths In Delhi
| Year | Injured | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,152 | 1,463 |
| 2020 | 3,662 | 1,196 |
| 2021 | 4,273 | 1,239 |
| 2022 | 5,201 | 1,461 |
| 2023 | 5,470 | 1,457 |
| 2024 | 5,224 | 1,551 |
| 2025 | 5,314 | 1,617 |