Get tough and suspend the licences of those caught driving drunk for five years, the deputy chief minister recommended.
Get tough and suspend the licences of those caught driving drunk for five years, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar recommended to the Mumbai Traffic Police on Monday.
Not willing to be deceived by the much-publicised marginal drop in the number of motorists who were caught driving in an inebriated state on New Year’s Eve, senior political leaders and bureaucrats want the traffic police to further intensify its anti drink-driving campaign.
On New Year’s Eve, the traffic police booked 739 motorists for drunken driving as against 860 offenders on December 31, 2010.
“The policy of the administration [while implementing the law] should be to be strict against offenders. In fact, the licenses of those indulging in drunken driving should be suspended for five years as a deterrent,” said Pawar, at the official launch of the fortnight-long Road Safety Campaign on Monday.
During the campaign, which will be held from January 1 to 15, officials will crack down on motorists not wearing seat belts, motorcyclists not wearing helmets and transport vehicles overloading luggage and passengers. They will also inspect tail lights, red and amber lights and installation of reflectors on vehicles. Motorists caught talking on mobile phones will also face a tough time.
Principal secretary (transport) SK Sharma pointed out that in the last four years, more than 74,000 motorists have been booked by the traffic police for driving under the influence of alcohol.
“More than 70% of the accidents in Maharashtra are because of human error, which means it is the driver’s fault,” Sharma said.
Currently, when the traffic police book a motorist for drunken driving, he has to pay Rs2,000 as deposit and his licence is seized. The offender is asked to present himself at the local metropolitan magistrate’s court, which then pronounces the punishment.
The court can suspend his driving licence for a minimum of one month to a maximum of one year and impose a fine ranging from Rs1,000 to Rs5,000. In extreme cases, the offender is sentenced to jail for a minimum of one day to a maximum of eight days.
On June 20, 2007, the traffic police launched its anti drink-driving campaign after it was observed that most accidents were caused by drunken motorists.
Since June 2007, the traffic police booked 74,146 motorists for driving drunk, of which 41,940 offenders were sent to jail and the licences of 36,978 suspended.
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