The Mumbai highway police have decided to crack down on traffic violators and offenders on the Mumbai-Pune expressway and National Highway. In a special drive carried out on Ahmedabad highway number 8 and expressway last week,a fine of Rs 88,000 was imposed on the violators and the police have registered around 570 cases. On the Mumbai-Pune Expressway,around 30 policemen have been deployed to nab violators. According to the police,commuters were found not using the seat belt. Another 164 cases have been filed and fine of Rs 21,000 has been imposed on traffic violators on Mumbai-Dhule highway number 3. Ahmedabad and Dhule highway,which pass through Mumbai,witness a large number of accidents due to rash driving. This is a first major drive taken by the highway police who on August 7 this yearthrough a government gazettegot the power to nab offenders. The highway police hope to curb the number of accidents on highways by carrying out such frequent drives. In 2008,around 15,077 accidents occurred on expressway and highway. Due to this,12,397 commuters died and 26,605 people suffered injuries.
