New year, same problem: Drunk driving cases double since last year in Delhi as 1,753 motorists get tickets

The new year is here, but the age-old problem of drunk driving on New Year's Eve continues to plague our cities.

By: News Desk |
January 1, 2018 5:18 pm

The new year is here, but the age-old problem of drunk driving on New Year’s Eve continues to plague our cities. On December 31, 1,753 drunk driving cases were reported in Delhi, which is double the number of cases reported in 2016, according to The Hindustan Times.

Apart from the drunk drivers, there were also 16,720 motorists, who have been issued tickets in Delhi for violating traffic rules on New Year’s Eve, the report stated.

Special commissioner of police (traffic) Dependra Pathak attributed the rise in numbers to the zero-tolerance policy that the police had adopted for curbing mishaps. The police had deployed teams at 433 checkpoints, of which 125 focused especially on drink-drivers.

Apparently, many lost their licences for up to three months under Supreme Court’s orders for certain offences. Others mostly received fines as per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

In 2016, only 889 out of 13,260 motorists received tickets, which is half of this year’s number. In 2015,

Also read: On New Year’s eve, let’s remember this traffic cop’s sacrifice that made streets of Kolkata a little safer for women

In the run-up to the New Year, Delhi Police had been actively promoting drunk driving campaigns.

#RoadSafetyZarroriHai issi liye #YaDrinkYaDrive pic.twitter.com/NjtKXrl5A0

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) December 30, 2017

#PeekeMatChalana pic.twitter.com/hXoOVXkUQX

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) December 29, 2017

The Twitter profile of Delhi Police even tweeted out a cautionary song for partygoers:

@DelhiPolice and @dtptraffic urges everyone to Not Drink and Drive.#YaDrinkYaDrive.
There will be ZERO tolerance towards this offence as it endangers both driver and road users. pic.twitter.com/iu2GSJnQAm

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) December 2, 2017

Even the UP Police did its bit to spread the message, keeping in mind not to taint the festive spirit of people. They put up a status with a reference from Salman Khan-starrer “Dabangg”.

हम आज सड़कों पर इतनी नाकाबंदी लगाएँगे कि आप कन्फ़्यूज़ हो जाओगे की एंटर कहाँ से करें और भागें कहाँ से! #ZaraSambhalKe #dontdrinkanddrive #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/pK5SWDQk6O

— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) December 31, 2017

Also read: #Dontdrinkandrive: UP Police’s Dabangg message to drunk drivers will keep revellers on their toes