Bengaluru traffic police book 10330 motorists for driving without valid licences

Bengaluru Traffic Police registered 10,330 cases of motorists driving without a valid licence up to May 2026, averaging 2,066 cases every month across the city. Under Karnataka Police directives, officers are not permitted to randomly stop moving vehicles solely to check licences unless a visible traffic violation has occurred. Consequently, most of these offenders were caught after committing other visible infractions, such as signal jumping.

According to traffic police data, the violation remains a persistent issue in Bengaluru, following 21,612 cases recorded during the year 2025. Officials noted that the top offenders include youngsters, first-time drivers, repeat offenders, and motorists who delay getting or renewing their driving licences.

When traffic police conduct enforcement checks for major offences, they require motorists to produce their driving licence. If the driver fails to do so, officers book an additional case, penalising them for two violations simultaneously. Officials noted that the top three excuses given by offenders on the ground are that they forgot the licence at home, lost it, or are waiting for a duplicate or renewed card from the Regional Transport Office (RTO).

However, authorities pointed out that motorists can no longer claim they forgot their physical licence, as digital copies can be easily presented through the DigiLocker app. Police also frequently observe motorists riding with expired licences or using only a learner's licence while failing to display the mandatory 'L' sign or ride with an accompanying licensed driver.

DCP South (traffic) Gopal M Byakod stated that with nearly 1.4 crore vehicles in Bengaluru, registering 10,000 to 20,000 cases is a significant issue that should not be ignored. He explained that a driving licence is essential legal proof of proper training and traffic rule comprehension, which is critical during accident cases and insurance claims.

Traffic expert MN Shreehari compared driving without a licence to running a business without a degree, warning that it significantly increases accident risks. He noted that untrained drivers may not know how to handle sudden road situations like lane changes, blind spots, emergency braking, or crossing pedestrians, and unchecked violations can gradually become habitual.