Drink driving cases up by 83%, cops collect ` 15 lakh in fines

TILL NOVEMBER Police registered 1,321 cases as opposed to 724 cases in the same period in 2014

T he number of drink driving cases registered by the Navi Mumbai traffic department in the first eleven months of this year has increased by an alarming 82.46% over last year’s figures for the same period.

Between January and November this year, the police registered 1,321 drink driving cases, as opposed to 724 cases registered in the corresponding period in 2014.

In the first eleven months of this year, the traffic department collected Rs15 lakh from dr unk drivers, as a g ainst Rs8.08 lakh collected in 2014.

Of f i cials said t hat t hese numbers are likely to increase to a great extent by this month- end. “In 2014, we registered just 724 drink driving cases between January and November. However, in December alone, we registered 380 such cases. More youth are caught while driving drunk every year during Christmas and New Year celebrations, so t he number i s bound to increase in the current month too,” said a senior official from the traffic department.

Arvind Salve, deputy commissioner of police ( traffic) said, “We paid special attention to a few areas that have witnessed frequent accidents. Palm Beach road, V as hi, certain areas of Nerul and Belapur and Panvel are among them. Our officials patrolled the roads with breath analysers and fined drivers who were found drunk at the wheel.”

“During Christmas and New Year celebrations this time, we will arrange for heavy bandobast at all public places and major roads. The city police and the traffic officials will jointly take efforts for the safety of the motorists and other people. Officials will also be deployed in places such as Vashi mini seashore, Sagar Vihar, NMMC pond at Kopar Khairane, and Sarsole lake along Palm Beach road, where youngsters come to hang out at night,” said a crime branch officer.

“Consuming alcohol prior to driving impairs driving ability and increases the risk of crashing, causing serious injury or death. Furthermore, crash statistics show t hat intoxicated drivers involved in fatal crashes are three times more likely to have been speeding or not wearing a seat belt than sober drivers,” he added.

Apart from drink- driving the police have also intensified actions against other violations such as riding motorcycles without helmets, driving without fastening seat belt, triple carrying, signal jumping among others.

“As far as the city of Navi Mumbai is concerned, around 98% of the population is educated. A majority of the residents are young and 31% of them are students. Despite being well- educated, people drink and drive, thus risking their own as well as others’ lives. This is one of the most unfortunate aspects of the city,” the officer said.