Driving licences of 1,121 people, booked for various violations of traffic rules, have been suspended by the Regional Transport Office, Ernakulam, this year till September. The figure suggests a decline in cases warranting strict punitive action as licences of a total of 3,870 people were suspended in 2024.
According to data accessed from the Motor Vehicles department, licences of most number of people were suspended this year for causing accidents. A total of 685 licences were suspended in the first nine months of the year for the offence. The cases were registered under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) which addresses causing death by negligence, as well as Section 125 which deals with acts endangering human life or personal safety. Licences of 21 people were suspended for one year in the cases relating to fatal accidents.
Licenses of 415 people were suspended on charges of drunk driving till September. The offenders booked for drunk driving include drivers of buses, lorries and cars.
“Licence suspension is often done following recommendation from the police, including in cases relating to drunk driving. Those recommended for the punishment are issued a notice to appear for a hearing before the decision is taken,” an MVD officer said.
The data shows an increase in the number of licence suspensions in Ernakulam this year and the previous year compared to the past few years. While 850 licences were suspended in 2023, the figure stood at 452 in 2022. The figures for 2021 and 2020 were as low as 362 and 350 respectively.
Officials said the increase in the numbers reflected stricter surveillance and preventive measures.
Officials said the number of licence suspension is likely to increase in the remaining two months, especially in the wake of an ongoing special drive against reckless driving by private buses in the city, and a possible surge in drunk driving cases towards Christmas and New Year celebrations. The MVD has registered nearly 800 cases against bus operators and staff for various offences as part of the special drive which started on October 25.
Published – November 05, 2025 07:26 pm IST
