Drunk drivers: Why they thrive

Though over 10,000 drunk drivers were fined this year, thousands of others managed to get away unchecked.

Though over 10,000 drunk drivers were fined this year, thousands of others managed to get away unchecked.

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Reason: The Delhi Traffic Police winds up its drive against drink driving by 2am.

However, most of the drink driving accidents are reported in the early hours of the day when the police presence is almost nil. Majority of the parties get over in the small hours and that is when most of the drunk drivers hit the road.

But the police say it is impossible for them to deploy their men throughout the day.

“We have limited staff and cannot have round-the-clock deployment. Our men start the traffic duty at 8am and continue till late night on days we have the drive,” said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

“We cannot keep them on roads all night long,” he added.

In June year, three children were orphaned when a speeding Mercedes convertible, being driven by the drunk son of a politician, hit the taxi their mother was in near Africa Avenue Marg in south Delhi around 3am.

In July, a drunk medical student allegedly ran over four labourers on the Safdarjung flyover around 2.30 am.