Traffic Police have collected Rs200.9 million on account of fines, against 839,000 challans, in the first three months of this year. The amount is roughly 20.48% more than last year.No one is above the law and compliance with traffic rules is compulsory for everyone, said Traffic DIG Javed Maher while speaking to The Express Tribune. Challans and fines would be imposed on traffic violators whether they are ordinary citizens or police officials, he added.While acknowledging the prevalence of traffic problems in the city, the DIG said that it was not right to hold the traffic police responsible for them entirely.Broken roads and flooded roads because of poor conditions of the sewerage system, encroachments and construction work in different areas of the city all contribute to traffic jams, he claimed. Traffic police officials are present on roads the whole day to keep the traffic flowing, he insisted.Maher said that 424,046 of the challans issued so far this year were for going wrong way on the roads. While 265,650 challans were issued for riding motorcyles without helmets, 12,192 challans were issued for using fancy number plates, 12,813 challans were issued for driving the car with an open letter, 10,090 challans were issued for driving without a number plate, 4,623 challans for driving without a registration number, 13,876 for violating traffic signals, 15,403 for underage drivers, 18,186 were issued for not using a seat belt while driving.Besides, 563 challans were issued against illegal chinchi rickshaws, and 14,217 challans were issued to CNG rickshaws for carrying passengers more than the permitted number of seats. And 4,152 people were arrested for reckless driving with cases registered under Section 279.According to Maher, different campaigns have been launched in the city to raise awareness among citizens about traffic rules and the police are also putting their best efforts to ensure the flow of traffic in an organised manner.Maher gave the example of a campaign initiated by the traffic police which included female staff, driving in fuel-friendly cars and presenting caps and key chains to drivers following traffic rules. The purpose of this campaign was to encourage people to follow traffic rules.The DIG claimed that immediate action is taken against traffic police officials in cases of misuse of authority or forced challans.He has issued orders for surprise inspections at different traffic intersections, and for departmental action to be conducted after suspension of traffic police officials involved in negligence and carelessness.Published in The Express Tribune, April 4, 2019.