The city drinks just as much on weekdays, thinks police. The checks will no longer be post-9 pm. It will start an hour earlier
Monday, March 18, 2013
In a bid to make city roads safer, the traffic police will check motorists for excessive alcohol consumption even on weekdays, starting on Monday.
In the first two and a half months this year, the traffic police have already booked 9,500 drunk driving cases and imposed fines of Rs 1.9 crore. Last year, 60,000 drunk driving cases were reported. On Saturday night alone, the traffic police slapped fines on 949 people for drunk driving, most of them in and around the Central Silk Board signal in the Madiwala traffic police limits.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, additional commissioner (traffic) MA Saleem said many cases are booked in the Madiwala traffic police limits as the Central Silk Board connects the tech hubs of Electronics City and Whitefield. “People do not drink and drive only on weekends. Drunk driving-related accidents happen even on weekdays and we want to prevent this. On Saturday, we conducted checks from 8 pm to 3.30 am and there were no accidents reported. We want to continue with the practice,” he said.
Earlier, drunk-driving checks were between 10.30 pm and 3.30 am, but they have been advanced to 8 pm as people have started drinking and driving earlier in the evening, a police officer said. Another traffic police officer said, “The marriage season will start soon, with the attendant stag parties. This is one of the reasons for starting a drive against drunk driving on a daily basis.”
According to traffic police records, there are 125 breathalysers among the 42 traffic police stations in the city, which the police feel are sufficient for the purpose.
To make motorists aware of the dangers of drunk driving, the cops detain their vehicles and issue notices to pay the fine in court. The police also arrange to have such motorists dropped home safely. “Sometimes, our policemen drop them home in police vehicles. If autos or cabs are available, we requisition them for the purpose,” Saleem said.
HIGH ON FINES
9,500 motorists booked for drunk driving in two-and-a-half months of 2013
Rs 1.9 crore in fines imposed till March 17 morning
Maximum number of violators found in Madiwala, Central Silk Board, Bommanahalli,Electronics City, Whitefield, HSR Layout,MG Road and Brigade Road
Earlier, drunk driving checks were from 9pm to 3.30 am, Friday to Sunday
