18,500 drivers prosecuted for drunken driving in capital

New Delhi: In its drive against drunken driving in the national capital, Delhi Traffic Police has prosecuted more than 18,500 drivers till July 15 of this year, of which more than 6,000 were arrested.

According to the police, till July 15 this year, a total of 18,645 drivers has been prosecuted for drunken driving and as many as 9,941 vehicles have been impounded. Police also arrested 6,235 of the errant drivers. "Delhi Traffic Police has been taking action against drunk driving since the very start of the year. The special drive is held on daily basis in the evening hours up to 10.30 PM. The objective is to deter people from drunken driving...," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Shukla. Teams of traffic police personnel, armed with sufficient numbers of "alcometers", are strategically deployed at about 80 locations for identifying and prosecuting drunk drivers. Assistant commissioners of respective police districts and town inspectors are available during the drive for exercising effective supervision and ensuring strict prosecution. It is ensured that each person is provided with fresh blow pipe while conducting breath test, said Shukla. During the period, the break-up of the prosecution is: 11,028 scooters/motorcycles, 5,468 cars, 689 autos, 666 HTVs/LGVs/MGVs, 349 delivery vans, 318 taxis, 56 gramin sewa, 23 chartered buses, 6 school buses, 6 RTV, 14 Call Centre cabs and 22 other vehicles. Shukla said the courts are also levying heavy fines and pronouncing imprisonment in drunk driving cases. This year a total of 3,729 drunk drivers have been detained "till the rising of the courts", 47 have been awarded imprisonments ranging from one to three days, nine have been awarded prison sentences from four to five days and four have been ordered to be imprisoned for more than 10 days. Besides prosecution, the drunk drivers are made to report for counselling session at the Traffic Police Headquarters located at Dev Prakash Shastri Marg, Pusa, New Delhi. During counselling, which started on April 27, they attend educational lectures and are shown short films. A written pledge is also taken from the errant drivers that in future they will not indulge in drunk driving. Till July 23, as many as 16,937 drivers have attended the counselling sessions.