New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS): Fines for traffic violations need to be hiked "many times" to deter motorists from violating rules, Delhi Traffic Police chief Satyendra Garg said Tuesday.

"Non revision of penalties since 1988 under the Motor Vehicle Act for traffic violations is one of the major reason for accidents and violations in Delhi," Garg told a seminar here.

"The fines need to be increased many times for increasing road safety," he added.

Garg said the issue of driving License should be more stringent.

"The vehicle fitness certification process also should be made stringent as most commercial vehicles plying in Delhi are not road worthy and poorly maintained."

Garge made the comments during a seminar organised by the International Road Federation (IRF) at Pragati Maidan.

More than 400 road safety experts from about 25 countries are taking part in the three-day seminar, said K.K. Kapila of the Federation, the main host of the conference.

Garg said the sharp increase in traffic violations and accidents by Delhi Transport Corp (DTC) buses in the last one year was a matter of major concern.

He said Delhi Traffic Police had stepped up prosecutions to tame DTC's rogue drivers -- for dangerous driving, red light jumping, driving without uniform or seat belt, overtaking and tampering with speed governors.

"We have even impounded DTC buses," he said.

"We have prosecuted more than 4,300 DTC buses in the first nine months of 2011 as compared to 1,972 during the same period in the previous year," he said.

Police also prosecuted 4,300 school vans in the first nine months of 2011 against 618 in 2010.

Garg said the number of fatal accidental deaths was falling. It stood at 1,445 in the first nine months of 2011, down from 1,555 in the same period in 2011.

A total of 1,908 driving licenses were cancelled this year, he added.