Make alcohol test must in accident case

A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has asked the Delhi Police to conduct mandatory alcohol test on drivers of offending vehicles so that they could be made responsible for paying compensation to accident victims.

A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has asked the Delhi Police to conduct mandatory alcohol test on drivers of offending vehicles so that they could be made responsible for paying compensation to accident victims.

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"It is essential and desirable that such instructions are issued to police stations investigating accident cases that such (alcohol) tests be conducted by investigating officers mandatory," MACT presiding officer Swarana K. Sharma said.

The court said if such kind of alcohol tests were conducted, it would become easier to impose the burden of compensation on them.

"It would teach him/her (the driver) a lesson as financial burden would be imposed on him/her for payment of compensation which, in turn, would be a deterrent for other such persons who also do not hesitate to drive vehicles after consuming liquor," the court said.

The court said this while awarding a compensation of Rs 1.76 lakh to Suresh Chand, a Delhi Police constable, who was hit by a car being driven in a rash manner during a routine vehicle check near Rajghat on the night of July 6, 2006.