A shocking new report by Park+ Research Labs highlights the rampant bribery culture among Delhi NCR car owners. Based on a survey of 600 car owners, the findings reveal that 64% of traffic offenders confessed to paying bribes to evade fines, raising serious concerns about law enforcement and governance in the region.
As per the reports, 42% admitted they paid bribes to escape perceived lengthy legal procedures, while 20% confessed to giving bribes purely out of fear.
- 69.6% of all bribes were under Rs 500, suggesting that smaller, frequent payoffs are common.
- 27.4% of bribes exceeded Rs 1,000, highlighting a growing trend in high-value bribery cases.
- Many offenders reported that police demands played a significant role in their decision to pay bribes.
Most Common Traffic Violations
- 30.84% of offenders were caught for jumping red lights.
- 19.16% of violators were penalized for not wearing seatbelts.
Silver Lining
Not all officers succumb to corruption. 31.17% of surveyed car owners acknowledged that some police officers refused bribes and issued fines instead.
Traffic Chaos in Delhi-NCR and Law Enforcement Struggles
The National Captial Region has over 3 million vehicles, leading to regular violations, congestions and even road rage incidents. In fact, Delhi police receive over 200+ daily calls regarding vehicle-related disputes. Despite efforts to crack down on violators, over 4500 challans were issued on New Year’s Eve 2025, and Rs 164 crore worth of fines were imposed on vehicles without valid PUC certificates in Oct-Nov 2024.
What’s The Solution?
The report underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to curb corruption and improve traffic management. Proposed solutions include: –
- Stricter penalties for both offenders and corrupt officials.
- Automated surveillance & AI-driven traffic monitoring to reduce human intervention.
- Digital payment & e-challan systems for greater transparency.
- Public awareness campaigns & whistleblower platforms to empower citizens.
Author’s Take
While the survey was conducted on a small sample size of just 600 car owners, it reflects a much larger problem that we all know exists. Bribery in traffic enforcement is widespread. Many offenders offer bribes not just out of fear or to avoid legal hassles, but also to escape hefty fines. Since they know a small bribe can get them off the hook, they choose this easy way out instead of following the law.
The solution lies in making fine payments fully digital, using AI-driven cameras for traffic enforcement and raising awareness about legal rights. If people know they can’t escape fines with bribes and that the system is transparent and fair, the problem can be controlled. Delhi-NCR needs a stronger, corruption-free traffic system to improve road safety and rebuild trust in law enforcement.
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