Police arrest 722 drunk drivers in last three months

Bhubaneswar: In a strict action 722 drunk drivers have been arrested by Police in the last three months in Odisha during a statewide drive against drunk driving. Official sources here on Wednesday said about 2176 people have been detected driving under the influence of alcohol during a statewide drive against drunken driving conducted by Transport Department from April 22 to June 22. With Covid-related restrictions lifted by the Odisha government
following a drastic dip in cases, the Transport Department along with State Police resumed action to check drunken driving in April. By the directives of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, a total of 663 Driving Licenses (DLs) have been suspended. Official sources claimed that there has been a sizable increase in the number of accidents ever since the drive against drunk driving had gone slack owing to the pandemic. After going easy on drunken driving during Covid pandemic time in view of the health hazards associated with breath analyser tests, the enforcement squads have been asked to conduct such drives at regular intervals,” Additional Commissioner
Transport, Enforcement & Road Safety Lalmohan Sethi said. As per the amendment of the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 mentions that in the case of drunken driving, first-time offenders will face imprisonment up to six months and/or fine up to Rs 10, 000. The second offence can lead to up to two years prison term and/ or fine of Rs 15,000. Despite a
set of strict laws and regulations, drunk driving continues to be one of the major reasons behind road accidents in India. As many as 246 road accidents took place in Odisha in 2021 due to drunken driving in which 79 people lost their lives while 151 people were injured.

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