Spurt in drunk and drive cases in city

Vijayawada: Heavy penalties and counseling classes conducted by the city traffic police have no impact on the drivers, who are caught in drunk and drive.  The police are conducting the drive almost every day to prevent drunk and drive in the city. 

Since January 2018, the police registered 2066 drunk and drive cases and collected Rs 29.50 lakh penalty from the offenders. The drunkards are recklessly driving auto-rickshaws, bikes, trucks, mini trucks and other vehicles across the city. 

Traffic police are conducting counseling three to four hours at the Traffic police complex located near Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation stadium.
Most of the accused caught in drunk and driving cases are youth in the age group to 20 to 30.

On Sunday, the city police conducted checking at Y V Rao Estates, Varadhi, Ramavarappadu Ring, Benz circle, Food junction, Budameru bridge, Padavala Revu, Ghat Road and Yanamalakuduru junction and booked 223 drunk and drive cases. They seized 169 two-wheelers, 18 auto-rickshaws,33 cars and 3 trucks.

In-charge traffic DCP T Ramaprasada Rao told media on Monday that the licence of the drivers will be cancelled if they are booked under the drunk and drive cases again. 

He said so far 120 persons were punished by the courts in drunk and drive cases this year and added the drunk drivers not only suffer loss due to the road accidents but also create problems to others.

He said the traffic police are repeatedly asking the auto-rickshaw drivers to avoid drunken driving because of the safety of the passengers. Traffic additional DCP Nagaraju, Traffic ACPs Muralikrishna, D Sravan Kumar, circle inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables participated in the drive.