Pune’s traffic congestion is a growing concern, with drivers spending 27 minutes 50 seconds to cover 10 km, ranking second in Asia for delays (Statista, 2025). The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, amended in 2019, enforces strict rules to ensure safety, yet violations like signal jumping (25% of fines, Pune Traffic Police, 2023) persist. Compliance with traffic rules is crucial for reducing the city’s 1,200 annual road accidents (Pune RTO, 2023).

Key rules include helmet mandates for two-wheelers (Section 129), speed limits (80 km/h on expressways), and drunk driving bans (Section 185, BAC limit 0.03%). Non-compliance incurs fines up to ₹5,000 or imprisonment. The Pune Traffic Police’s 2019 “Puneri Patya” campaign, with signs like “No helmet? Meet our fine!” reduced helmet violations by 15% in areas like Shivajinagar. Technology aids enforcement—CCTV cameras issued 50,000 e-challans in 2023, recovering ₹10 crore in fines.

Legally, *Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India (1978)* underscores the right to safe travel under Article 21, obligating citizens to obey rules. Community initiatives, like ‘icare4pune.com’, proposed “Safe Roads Pledge,” can encourage compliance. Schools can teach traffic discipline, reducing the 20% youth-related violations (RTO data, 2023). Residents can report violations via the Pune Traffic Police website, which offers real-time congestion updates.

To decongest Pune, the PMC must address intra-city bottlenecks, as suggested by MyGov’s 2023 forum, prioritizing railway station routes. Citizens can advocate for flyovers and signal-free corridors, reducing the 132 hours annually spent in traffic.

Let’s obey traffic rules—wear helmets, follow signals, and drive Pune toward safety!