Corruption always occurs when there is a lack of clear accountability. Previously, issuing manual challans led to under-the-table bribery and various other corrupt practices that included cash payments or privileged biases.
Many of these corrupt practices are at a dead end, as digital traffic enforcement systems such as e-challan systems and HTMS (Highway Traffic Management System) have risen. People now pay their challans directly to the government, reducing corruption. Read more through the blog to know how these digital systems help to reduce corruption in traffic enforcement.
Types of Corruption in Traffic Enforcement
Both general people and authorities get involved in multiple corrupt practices that have been listed below:
- Bribery: Accepting or demanding money from violators as a fee for not issuing a challan.
- Extortion: Threatening motorists with exaggerated penalties or false violations unless they pay an additional amount.
- Selective Enforcements: Not issuing a challan to a violator who happens to be a close friend or family member of the issuer. This can also be the case when someone is purposefully ignored for personal gain.
- Paying to Get a Driver’s License: Many riders who do not know how to drive or are unable to pass their exam get their license by paying a fee.
- Forging Documents: Forging fake documents, such as a driver’s license or insurance, is illegal and comes under corruption. People often do these to avoid paying for insurance.
Various Types Of Digital Systems Used In India for Traffic Enforcement
There are mainly 2 types of digital systems used for traffic law enforcement. Let’s know about them in detail.
E-Challan System
The e-challan system uses AI and CCTV cameras to perform videographic analysis to identify traffic violations on roads. The e-chaallan system can read the violator’s car’s registration number and issue a challan automatically on the mobile number. The system is linked to databases such as VAHAN and SARATHI to identify and issue challans correctly.
Gujarat and Telangana are examples of fully integrated states with ts e challan systems. This system removes the use of human interaction for challans and automates the issuance of challans. People pay their challans online, directly to the government instead of an officer.
HTMS
The government, with the help of KPMG, has built a system to monitor traffic violence on highways and expressways. The system is integrated with databases such as VAHAN, SARATHI, and ITMS to issue challans. This makes people comply with the rules even on the high roads.
Often, authorities take large bribes to look the other way on crimes such as overloading, overspeeding, or carrying goods that require a special license. The CCTV surveillance and online challan payment can help reduce these crimes.
6 Ways Digital Systems Help Reduce Corruption in Traffic Enforcement
Here is how integrating the echallan system helps to reduce corruption in traffic enforcement in India.
Automation
The introduction of the e-challan system removes the requirement of manual challans, which automatically reduces human interventions in issuing fines. This limits the opportunities for bribery or favouritism as people pay their penalties online.
Increased Transparency
The introduction of the e-challan system and online challan payment made it easy for the government to calculate the number of challans issued and the collection amount from them. Which means any ambiguity in the challan payment can be caught instantly. Moreover, the e-challan system also provides an image of your scene of violation, which helps to make sure you do not pay for a crime you did not commit.
Online Payment
Online payment of your due amount helps to eliminate manual cash handling. This reduces the chances of corruption by showing miscalculations at the time of collection.
Accurate Identification
The e-challan system runs on AI and uses databases like VAHAN, SARATHI, and ITMS to identify and issue challans. This helps remove corrupt practices such as making someone else pay a challan that originally belonged to another violator.
Getting Driver’s Information Through The Database
The e-challan system uses its integrated database, such as VAHAN and SARATHI, to collect the car owner’s documents for verification. This eradicated corrupt practices such as fabricating documents to get away with insufficient documents.
The Bottom Line
According to a study, over 62% of people had firsthand experience paying bribes to public officials, including police officers. Well, the e-challan system eradicates most of the corrupt practices just by removing human intervention for the issuance of challans. This system helps to keep you safe on the roads.
However, make sure you do not violate any traffic laws, as the e-challan system will automatically issue fines on your number. Also, be aware of WhatsApp scam APKs such as “RTO E-Challan.apk” or “MParivahan.apk” that can install malware on your device and steal your data if you open them.