1,076 people caught for drink and driving in five hours

The city traffic police booked 1,076 drink and drive cases across the city on Saturday night. The special drive conducted between 9 pm to 2 am happened at 133 places across the city, and a total of 13,442 vehicles were stopped and their drivers/riders were checked for alcohol consumption. Of the 1,076 cases, 12 were booked against women drivers.

While the total number of drink and drive cases booked in January stood at 2,568, on Saturday, Bangalore traffic police booked over 41% of that number in just about five hours. In February, the figure stood at 6,444.

The highest number of cases, 80, were booked in Peenya traffic police station limits. Two-wheeler riders: 757

Car drivers: 231
Auto drivers: 35
Truck drivers: 24
Tempo drivers: 18
Maxi-cab drivers: 9
Bus drivers: 2

The Bangalore traffic police said the licences of those caught for drink and drive for the first time, will be suspended from April 1. "As of now, driving licences of those who are caught for the third time will be impounded. From April 1, licences of those who are caught for the first time will be impounded and we will write to the transport department to suspend it," said B Dayananda, additional commissioner of police (traffic).

The Bangalore traffic police have taken a serious view of motorists using their mobile phones while driving/riding and are contemplating to recommend cancellation of their driving licences, even if they are caught violating the mobile phone rule for the first time. Using the phone through hands-free devices such as bluetooth or earphones and even listening to music on the phone is illegal while riding/driving, the police said.