Delhi Police to crack down on drunk driving

In yet another attempt to check incidents of drunk driving, the Delhi Traffic police have deployed hundreds of its personnel across the Capital this Diwali.

In yet another attempt to check incidents of drunk driving, the Delhi Traffic police have deployed hundreds of its personnel across the Capital this Diwali.

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On Friday, these traffic policemen, equipped with alcoholmeters, will be posted at strategic locations to bring to book drunk drivers.

Violators will have to shell out R2,000 as penalty and forfeit their right to drive for the next six months.

“This is part of an ongoing drive against drunk driving that we began in August. But we have intensified the same on the occasion of Diwali,” said Satyendra Garg, joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

“We have deployed cops — with alcoholmeters — near markets, pubs, bars and restaurants across the city, to apprehend drunk drivers,” Garg added.

Those caught driving after consuming alcohol beyond the permissible limit will be issued a challan of R2,000.

Besides, the High Court may also suspend the violator's driving license for six months.

“The Delhi Traffic police,

in a bid to curb the menace of drunk driving on Delhi roads, have approached the court to exercise provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to seize driving licenses and issue challans of R2,000,” he said.

“This really works. The court has seized about 282 driving licenses since October 16,” Garg added.

Maintaining that the tendency of drunk driving is actually reducing, he added, “This year, till October 31, casualties due to drunk driving have gone down. Last year, the figure was 1,932; this year, till October, it has come down to 1,744. On Wednesday, Delhi set a rare example of no road fatalities,” said Garg.