Tipsy drivers double this New Year

The traffic police issued 1,752 tickets in drink-driving cases reported during New Year's celebrations, a massive 97 per cent spike as the number was only 889 last year. Similarly, 193 tickets were issued for over speeding, a jump of 147 per cent. The figure in 2016 was 78.

This is despite a sustained campaign by police and traffic authorities on social media to curb drink-driving and over speeding cases.

Elaborate arrangements in the city had been made in anticipation of traffic norm violations. At 433 points, traffic cops and PCR vans had been deployed. Of these, 125 points had alcometers. Such points included areas with a number of pubs, discotheques and restaurants, mostly in South, West and Central Delhi.

Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said "Total number of challans issued on New Year eve in 2017 is 16,720. There were 745 challans for drink driving before 12 am and 1,007 after 12 am. Ninety per cent of violators were youngsters in the age group of 20-30. A drunk person behind the wheels is not only unsafe for himself but for others on roads as well. High degree of safety of citizens was kept in mind."

Apart from the fines under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, many drivers also had to lose their driving licences for at least three months under the Supreme Court's order for certain offences.

An additional 2,500 traffic police personnel had been deployed in Delhi to prevent drunken driving and hooliganism during New Year's celebrations. The locations included Connaught Place, Khan Market, Saket, Hauz Khas Village, Vasant Kunj and Rajouri Garden. This is in addition to around 2,000 cops routinely deployed on Delhi's streets.