Chandigarhians’ love for boozing has got an official testimony from Chandigarh Traffic Police now. Last year, 6663 motorists were issued drunken driving challans. This has been the highest number ever. However, a good news is also accompanied that says that casualties in road accidents have dropped. Only 107 casualties have been reported last year, the lowest in last five years.
Traffic cops have stated that strictness in drunken driving cases has yielded good results in dropped casualties numbers. Police have increased number of duty and patrolling hours, locations and days of setting anti-drunken nakas in Chandigarh.
| Year |
Number Of Drunken Driving Challans |
| 2017 |
6663 |
| 2016 |
4667 |
| 2015 |
4052 |
| 2014 |
4903 |
| 2013 |
4789 |
Earlier in January, the Chandigarh traffic police had released data which said that in the year 2017, as many as 1.2 lakh people (1,22,746) were challaned for various offenses in the city and a total of Rs 4.59 crore (Rs 4,59,11,810) was collected as fine.
Drunken Driving During Night Main Causes Most Casualties
Normally, police set up mobile nakas near discotheques, pubs, hotels and restaurants to nab drunken drivers.
On New Year Eve, traffic police apprehended 203 drunk drivers. This was the highest number (challans issued to drunk drivers) in a single day. Presently, the police suspends licences of the drivers who are caught in cases of drunken driving.
The Punishments for Drunken Driving
According to the norms set in Motor Vehicles Act, a drunk driver can awarded jail for 6 months and fined Rs 2,000 fot first time offence. A provision for 2-year jail or a fine of Rs 3000 or both for subsequent offence(within 3 years of committing the previous offence) is also there.
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