Gurugram Police gears up to put brakes on road stunts

A 28-second video of a young man dangerously driving a yellow sports car in a zigzag pattern inside an underpass on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road recently went viral. The man, yet to be identified, was seen hanging out of the speeding vehicle, making gestures and shouting at other motorists. Notably, the car did not carry a registration number plate.

This incident followed closely on the heels of another video showing four undergraduates in a luxury car performing stunts in broad daylight on the Dwarka Expressway. Two of the men were seated atop the moving vehicle, blaring loud music.

Such videos, especially during festive occasions like Diwali, have increasingly surfaced on social media, showing young men bursting crackers atop moving cars or indulging in reckless driving, endangering not just themselves but also others on the road.

While FIRs have been registered and some of the accused arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Rajesh Mohan admits the trend is catching on in the Millennium City, likely inspired by social media content from Western countries.

Mr. Mohan says that improved road infrastructure in Gurugram has become a double-edged sword, facilitating stunts on stretches like Golf Course Road and Dwarka Expressway. “These incidents often happen at night when both traffic and police presence are minimal. The perpetrators believe they can get away with it,” he notes. 

To clamp down on this growing menace, the Gurugram police are now going beyond fines to file criminal cases. “Most offenders come from affluent backgrounds and drive high-end vehicles. The fines for speeding or lane violations, ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹5,000, don’t deter them. So, we register cases under Sections 281 (rash driving), 285 (obstructing public way), and 125 (endangering human life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which allow for up to six months’ imprisonment,” said Mr. Mohan. 

Earlier this month, after arresting the accused in the luxury car stunt case, the police posted a video of them offering a public apology and urging others not to attempt such acts. “We shared both before and after visuals to drive home the message that such reckless behaviour has serious legal consequences,” said the officer.

He also pointed out that in most cases, complaints are filed by police themselves after monitoring viral videos, as citizens rarely come forward.

To address the issue further, Gurugram traffic police are focusing on stricter speed enforcement. Speed limit signage has been installed across major roads, and challans are now issued based on CCTV camera surveillance. 

According to data, 34,896 challans were issued for speeding till May 31 this year, almost double the 18,444 issued during the same period last year. Additionally, 19,887 challans were issued for lane violations and 1,738 for dangerous driving this year, compared to 61,780 and 3,891 respectively last year.

While many of these stunts are performed to gain social media attention, others stem from a desire for thrill or to flaunt social status.

To promote behavioural change, Gurugram police have adopted a two-pronged strategy: enforcement coupled with appreciation. “Our campaign ‘Drive Right, Shine Bright,’ launched last month, rewards motorists who follow rules,” said Dr. Mohan. In May, five rule-abiding motorists were identified using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and felicitated. A mobile van has also been deployed for public awareness, and special drives are being conducted for app-based cab drivers, he added.