Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Police to target drunk drivers

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore Dec. 5. The Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, today launched the Suraksha Sanchara Partnership initiative in Bangalore against drinking and driving.

Mr. Kharge asked the traffic police to strictly enforce traffic rules and punish offenders, particularly drunken drivers. In the West, the police did not spare anybody for violating traffic rules, unlike in India.

The initiative will be implemented by the police, along with the Bangalore Agenda Task Force and the Global Road Safety Partnership of the World Bank. The help of the International Centre for Alcohol Policy, NIMHANS, and the Society for Alcohol-related Social Policy Initiative (SASPI) has also been taken to combat the menace of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), M.N. Reddy, who welcomed the gathering, said the police had constituted two teams to focus on the enforcement drive.

Fines as specified in the Indian Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 would be levied on all offenders, he said.

The Director General and Inspector General of Police, T. Madiyal, was present.

In addition to advertisements, stickers, posters, and charts will be distributed and exhibited at strategic locations such as pubs, bars, colleges, and corporate offices.

The enforcement drive will begin in a month and drivers will be randomly tested using breathalysers. Drivers found to have consumed alcohol above the permissible limit will be punished.

A fine of Rs. 2,000 will be levied for the first offence and Rs. 3,000 for the second offence upon which the vehicle will be seized. Relatives of the offender will be informed.

The Commissioner of Police, M.D. Singh, said it was high time that the dangers of drinking and driving were recognised and offenders punished. The worst thing about drinking and driving was that it resulted in accidents which injured innocent victims.

Vijay Rekhi, president, SASPI, and Kalpana Kar, member, BATF, spoke.

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