Cops out to crack down on daytime drunk driving

​Hyderabad: Contrary to popular belief that drunk driving happens only at night, statistics prove that drunk driving is as rampant in daytime as during nights. According to officials, around 10-12 members are allotted to deal with this traffic violation at a given area and there are plans afoot to increase the number of breath analysers. 

Presently, they are providing five to eight breathing analysers to each of the police stations.Recently, the police conducted special drives and nabbed several school auto, van and bus drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol.

Nearly 20 cases were booked on the first day of daytime drunk driving drive. Since January to June this year 14,546 charge sheets were filed, and the violators were remanded in custody for a period of one to 30 days.

Working in the interest of 3,500 odd schools and junior colleges in the city, special drunken driving drives were conducted and the driving licenses of those caught violating the law were cancelled permanently. From January to June this year, 879 driving licenses got suspended. 

Based on the severity of violation, driving licenses of the culprits were suspended for a period of three months to 10 years. Taking strong steps against regular violators’ police suspended 104 driving licenses permanently.

As per the statistics of Traffic police, 14,396 cases were booked against drunk drivers in twin cities. Compared to last year’s 8,966 cases there is a 61 per cent hike in the cases. 

Focussing seriously on day time drives, traffic police intensified punishment in terms of penalty, suspension of driving license and imprisonment. To take stringent action on the violators, police cancelled the social service penalty which was active till December 2017.