'Drinking, driving and young blood make a deadly cocktail'

DCP (traffic) Harish Baijal opens up on his campaign
against drink-driving.

In the Alistair Pereira case, we saw seven pavement dwellers losing their lives (about 15 had been run over), and the courts took two-three years to deliver a six-month sentence. Think again: seven lives lost, and the decision to jail the offender took so many years to be made.

Subsequently, we decided to start a robust campaign against drunk-driving, with a provision for putting offenders in jail for six months. To ensure deterrence, preventive action is necessary.

On June 8, 2007, for the first time we began our campaign against drink-driving with vigour. It was held between 11pm and 1am, and we caught 65 drivers. About 90% were 18-year-olds. Most of them had neither a permit to drink nor a licence to drive. Drinking and driving makes a deadly cocktail, particularly if coupled with young blood.

A majority of the 60,000-odd people we’ve caught are between 18 and 25 years of age. Also, before 2007, those who were caught would deposit Rs2,000 and never had go to courts. But later, we ensured their presence in the courts by serving summons.

When we noticed that the number of accidents was not decreasing, we started pleading with courts to impose imprisonment. If you are caught the second time and convicted, then the courts have to compulsorily cancel your licence. Would Nooriya Haveliwala have dared to drive under the influence of alcohol if she were in the US? No. Because of the fear of law there. Here in India, the moment you come out of jail, you apply for a duplicate licence and get it as a matter of right. The malady lies here.”