New Traffic Rules 2026: Five Challans and License Confiscated

New Traffic Rules 2026: Significant changes have been made to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, in Uttar Pradesh. The amended provisions have been implemented as the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 2026, effective January 1, 2026. Under notifications issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the rules have been made more stringent to curb repeat traffic offenders and strengthen road safety. Guidelines have also been issued at the state level to enforce these rules.

Rules on Five Challans in a Year

According to the new provisions, if a driver violates traffic rules five or more times in a year, their driving license will be suspended for three months. This period will be counted from January 1, 2026. Violations include overspeeding, jumping red lights, driving without a helmet or seat belt, and using a mobile phone while driving. Such drivers may also be temporarily disqualified.

Challan Payment Deadline

Payment of the challan is mandatory within 45 days of issuance. If payment is not made within the stipulated time, the challan will be automatically considered accepted, and further legal proceedings may begin. This may include suspension of vehicle or license-related services.

New Process for Filing Objections

If a vehicle owner disagrees with the challan, they must file an objection with the relevant RTO or Divisional Transport Officer within 45 days. Now, the option to upload photo or video evidence digitally is also available. After the stipulated deadline, the likelihood of any relief will diminish.

Payment Required Before Going to Court

If dissatisfied with the officer’s decision, the person concerned can approach the court. However, a deposit of 50 percent of the challan amount will be mandatory before proceeding. This provision aims to limit the tendency to approach the court directly and ensure that cases are resolved at the administrative level.

Delivery and Monitoring of E-Challans

The new rules mandate that e-challans be delivered to vehicle owners within three days and physical challans within 15 days. Monitoring will be enhanced through automatic number plate recognition cameras and other digital technologies to ensure accurate records of violations.

Purpose and Potential Impact of the Rules

The primary objective of these amendments is to reduce road accidents, control habitual offenders, and make the challan collection process transparent. While previously, stricter enforcement was primarily focused on serious offenses, now a stricter approach has been adopted for common traffic violations as well. This is expected to improve road discipline.