Surprise drunken-drive checks yielding results in Visakhapatnam city

Visakhapatnam: After the traffic police were following strict rules against drunk and drive cases, to avoid fine and jail the youngsters were opting special whatsApp groups and other social media to share traffic check-up points within real time and alerting others to divert their route to evade the drunk and drive tests.  

With much aware of regular spots and fixed timing slots of drive against tipsy driving, the tech-savvy motorists are escaping from drunken driving test. With this, the khaki men on roads have decided to carry out surprise drives and change the location of check-up points to nab the traffic violators during the winter season.

According to the reports, the consumption of liquor is more during winter than any other season and the chances of drunken driving is also more and majority of the motorists were caught for drunken driving under Gajuwaka, Malkapuram, Three-Town, Two-Town and Airport Police Stations limits in the city. 

Speaking to The Hans India, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K Prabhakar said that despite the jail term and hefty fines for drunken driving, majority of the motorists continue to drive the vehicles under the influence of alcohol in the city.

However, some drunken motorists are managing to dodge the men-in-uniform by using the alternative roads in which there is no presence of police to reach their destination.

In the last four months, the fatal accidents of tipsy driving were reduced as more men in uniform were deployed especially on weekends and occasions. 

After they had received information that most of the youngsters causing traffic hurdles on the beach road after consuming alcohol and leading for rash and snake driving and fatalities in road crashes, the police conducted surprise checks at various new points to nab them.

“We will change regular checking points to nab the maximum number of tipsy motorists. As part of it, a sub-inspector rank officer along with a constable will be conducting a surprise checks during day time, which doesn’t allow the motorists to escape from the drunken driving test,” the ACP added.

Over 100 drivers were caught on drunk and drive checks per day under various police station limits in the city. Most of the arrested, awarded 7 days jail along with fine, were aged between 28-40 years of age.