New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Drunk driving on the eve of the New Year may land motorists and scooterists in the capital behind bars, Delhi Traffic Police said Thursday, announcing its plans to depute 50 teams to conduct checks.
‘From bar to behind the bars, drinks and drive make deadly combination literally,’ Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), wrote on the Delhi Traffic Police page on Facebook.
‘With the coming weekend and New Year festivities around the corner, let people behave responsibly. Let them remain safe,’ he said.
He said 50 teams of traffic police, including a woman constable each, will be deployed in the capital from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec 31.
‘More than 3,000 policemen will be deputed in the city on the eve of the New Year. Around 80 percent deployment of Delhi Police officials will be on roads,’ said Garg.
According to Garg, no vehicular movement will be allowed in the inner, middle and outer circle of Connaught Place Dec 31 till 3 a.m.
‘For the facility of the people, parking lots will be opened in Gole Dakkhana, Kali Bari Marg, Pandit Pant Marg, Mandi House and K.G. Marg area,’ said Garg.
In drunk driving cases, offenders are slapped a Rs.2,000 fine. Non-payment of fine may invite suspension of the driving licence and jail term, added Garg.
Since Jan 1 to Dec 15 this year, 16,691 drivers were prosecuted for drunk driving. ‘A total of 2,869 were sent to jail while 2,179 driving licences were suspended,’ he said.
Beside the police initiative, Campaign Against Drinking and Driving, a non-profit organisation, is conducting seven days’ campaign to control driving under influence.
Prince Singhal, president of the campaign, said the NGO representatives were going to almost 500 bars and pubs across the country for this purpose.
‘Through the campaign of ‘Designated Driver’, we are distributing the contact numbers of taxis and other vehicles. The pub workers could assist the people who feel they are not able to drive the vehicle under the influence of liquor and need taxi,’ said Singhal.
