Police to now keep an eye on drunk women behind wheels

Are you a woman and high on liquor? Chances are this New Year’s eve, you may not escape the clutches of the traffic cops.

Are you a woman and high on liquor? Chances are this New Year's eve, you may not escape the clutches of the traffic cops.

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Delhi Traffic Police that generally turns a blind eye to drunk women drivers has decided not to spare them this time.

"We have formed 50 police teams to check drink driving throughout Saturday night. Each of these teams will include women constables to check violations by women drivers also," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).

"Women in Delhi, however, do not generally drink and drive. They cause less than 2% of all fatal road mishaps in the city. But we still do not want to take any risks," Garg added.

This year, about 3,000 people have been sent behind bars for drink driving. Not a single woman was among those held. Traffic police’s logic: Women are better drivers and there is no need to check them for drink driving."

Department insiders, however, cited a different reason. "Many women visit city's watering holes in plush localities like Saket, Connaught Place and Khan Market. We do not have enough women staff to put them on duty during regular late night drives. So, women drivers are not checked through alcometers."

Last year, drunk women drivers were involved in at least three major road accidents.

On May 23 last year an Indian Army officer's wife — under the influence of alcohol — killed two persons and injured two more after her car collided with an autorickshaw in Delhi Cantonment.

There are 5,937 personnel in Delhi Police's traffic unit, of which only 508 are women.