Over 18,000 drunk drivers prosecuted in Delhi this year
26 July 2014 4:23 AM IST
Records of Delhi Police shows, out of the 18000-odd drivers prosecuted this year so far till 15 July, around 5500 are private car owners. ‘And surprisingly, majority of these defaulters are not youngsters, they are affluent middle-aged men belonging to the age group of 35 years to 50 years,’ says Anil Shukla, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic).
The records further show, almost 10000 vehicles have been impounded and more than 6000 drivers have been arrested on charges of drunken driving this year between the period 1 January to 15 July.
In the previous year, around 25000 drunken drivers were prosecuted by the Delhi Traffic Police.
Till date, Delhi Traffic Police has organised hundreds of campaigns against drunken driving, but the effectiveness of these campaigns cannot be easily ascertained, said Anil Shukla. Now, they have started counselling people who are prosecuted for alcohol-influenced driving. ‘In the past three months, around 17000 people have been counselled,’ said Shukla. However, campaigners against alcohol-influenced driving have a slightly different take on this issue.
‘The traffic police can prosecute more youths for drunken driving if they strengthen their checking process during the afternoon and early evening parts of the day, that is when a large chunk of the youth population of the city drinks and drives back home,’ says activist Prince Singhal, founder of Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD).
He further said, drunken driving should be made a non-bailable offence.
The records further show, almost 10000 vehicles have been impounded and more than 6000 drivers have been arrested on charges of drunken driving this year between the period 1 January to 15 July.
In the previous year, around 25000 drunken drivers were prosecuted by the Delhi Traffic Police.
Till date, Delhi Traffic Police has organised hundreds of campaigns against drunken driving, but the effectiveness of these campaigns cannot be easily ascertained, said Anil Shukla. Now, they have started counselling people who are prosecuted for alcohol-influenced driving. ‘In the past three months, around 17000 people have been counselled,’ said Shukla. However, campaigners against alcohol-influenced driving have a slightly different take on this issue.
‘The traffic police can prosecute more youths for drunken driving if they strengthen their checking process during the afternoon and early evening parts of the day, that is when a large chunk of the youth population of the city drinks and drives back home,’ says activist Prince Singhal, founder of Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD).
He further said, drunken driving should be made a non-bailable offence.
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