Wrong-Side Driving: Challans, Fines, and Rules in India

Consequences of Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

Driving on the wrong side of the road is illegal and punishable by law in India. It is a reckless action that increases the risk of severe accidents on the road. If caught by traffic officials while riding on the wrong side of the road, you will have to face harsh consequences, such as:

1. Fine: You can be issued a wrong side driving challan that you have to pay to clear it.
2. Imprisonment: Depending on the severity of the offence, you may face imprisonment.
3. Other punishments: Depending on the severity of the offence, the authorities may also levy other punishments like seizure of the bike and cancellation of the driving licence.
4. Impact on insurance: Any damage or loss caused as a result of wrong side driving is normally not covered under bike insurance policies. This is because this offence is deemed illegal driving, which is a common exclusion under motor insurance.

Wrong-Side Driving Fine for Two-Wheelers in India

With the increase in traffic violations and road accidents, the authorities have amended the rates of various traffic rule violations. Some fines have been hiked five to ten times the previous amount in an effort to put a stop to these offences.

Driving against the authorised flow of traffic is a violation of Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. Here are the details of the wrong side driving fine:

1. First offence: Up to INR 5,000 fine or court challan for wrong side driving and/or up to one year imprisonment.
2. Second and subsequent offences: Up to INR 10,000 fine or court challan for wrong side driving and/or up to two years imprisonment.

The wrong side challan amount can vary from state to state. While some states, like West Bengal, have a fixed driving wrong way fine bracket, in places like Delhi, the final fine amount is subject to the ruling of the court.

What Happens If You Are Caught Driving on the Wrong Side?

One of the main reasons people do wrong-side driving is to avoid making the extra stretch forward for a U-turn and save time. Regardless of the reason, you shouldn’t drive on the wrong side and break traffic laws. In the event you are caught driving wrong side, here’s what you need to do:

Pull over

If the traffic police catch you riding on the wrong side of the road, you will be asked to stop. It is vital that you stop at their request and offer full co-operation. Make sure not to argue, especially if you are at fault.

Show documents

You will be asked to present the essential documents, such as vehicle RC, bike insurance, driving licence and PUC certificate. Show them these documents, either in authorised hard copies or digitally on the DigiLocker or mParivahan mobile app.

Get the challan

If you don’t have any of these documents, there can be a separate challan for that. Besides, the traffic police will cite a wrong side challan fine for the original traffic violation.

Settle the challan

If available, you can pay the wrong way challan on the spot via the Point of Sale/e-challan machine. Otherwise, you can collect the wrong route challan copy and pay it afterwards at a nearby police station.

Note: Depending on the severity of the violation, the traffic police may also levy other hefty punishments, such as imprisonment, driving licence revocation, or vehicle seizure.

How to Pay a Wrong-Side Driving Challan Online?

You can easily pay the fine for wrong side driving online via your smartphone, tablet or computer. Here are the steps for it:

1. Step 1: Head over to the Parivahan Sewa website.
2. Step 2: Tap on “Online Services” and select “e-Challan.”
3. Step 3: Click on the options called “Pay Online”.
4. Step 4: You can either type in the bike wrong side challan number, or the bike’s registration number or your driving licence number.
5. Step 5: Click “Get Details” after completing the Captcha verification.
6. Step 6: Select the pending wrong side driving challan and click “Pay Now.”
7. Step 7: Pay the challan amount via any of the available online methods and get a copy of the payment receipt.

Safety Tips for Bike Riders to Avoid Traffic Violations

As a biker, you need to be extra careful while navigating the traffic amidst four-wheelers, heavy trucks, and tuk-tuks. Here are some practical safety precautions that you can follow:

Avoid Drinking and Riding

Never ride your bike or any vehicle under the influence of alcohol. It is not only dangerous to you but also to other motorists and pedestrians on the road. Drinking and driving is a leading cause of road accident-related fatalities in India.

Additionally, if caught riding while drunk, you can face severe consequences, such as hefty fines and/or imprisonment.

Always Wear a Helmet

It is mandatory by law for both the rider and the pillion to wear helmets with proper certification when riding a two-wheeler. Many of the fatalities from two-wheeler-related accidents are attributed to head trauma.

Hence, protecting your head with a helmet and body with protective riding gear can be the difference between life and death. Additionally, there are hefty fines for riding a bike without a helmet.

Follow Traffic Signals Strictly

Make sure to strictly adhere to the traffic signals on the road. Jumping red lights or illegal U-turns can lead to severe accidents. If you are caught in violation of this rule, you will have to pay major fines.

Ride at a Controlled Speed

One of the most common traffic violations and causes of road accidents in India is overspeeding. Hence, you are advised to follow the legal speed limits and ride at a controlled speed at all times.

Never Drive on the Wrong Side

Riding against the authorised flow of the traffic, i.e., wrong side driving, is very dangerous. It is one of the leading causes of road accidents in India, second to overspeeding. No matter the circumstances, make sure to follow your lane and ride on the correct side.

Taking the extra kilometre stretch for the U-turn is much better than breaking the law, risking lives on the road and paying a hefty wrong side fine.

Choose the Right Two-Wheeler Insurance Policy

Riding a bike without a valid two-wheeler insurance policy is against the law in India and punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. Although the minimum mandatory requirement by law is the third-party liability cover, investing in comprehensive bike insurance is highly advised.

It protects you against both third-party liabilities and own damages sustained by the insured bike or scooter. Check out Jio Insurance Broking for your two-wheeler insurance needs. Find and compare plans from popular insurance companies and buy/renew policies in just a few clicks.

Conclusion

The implementation of traffic rules and regulations aims to ensure a smooth flow of traffic throughout the country and keep both motorists and pedestrians safe while on the road. As a responsible bike owner and rider, you must adhere to these regulations. Even violations that may seem minor on the surface, such as wrong-side driving, can lead to major consequences. Hence, it is best to ride safely and smartly at all times.

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