Nagpur: In Nagpur City, many citizens drive vehicles under the influence of alcohol daily. However, it has come to light that traffic police have taken action against only 706 individuals in the past five months. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, from January to May 24, 2024, the traffic police acted against only 706 drunken drivers. In contrast, action was taken against 461,000 drivers for violating traffic rules.
Considering the number of bars in the city and the daily number of people consuming alcohol there, the action taken against drunken drivers appears negligible. If the traffic police’s negligence continues, there is a likelihood of an increase in road accidents.
The Traffic Department conducts awareness campaigns about rule compliance in the city. However, due to the lack of consistency in enforcement, the fear of the traffic police has diminished. Commonly, police officers are not present at their posts but are seen looking for ‘prey’ under trees. Currently, the issue of driving under the influence of alcohol is a topic of discussion.
If checks are conducted near bars at intersections, hundreds of drunk drivers could be caught daily. There is a provision for a fine of more than Rs 2000 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and their vehicles are also seized. Drivers must pay fines in court to retrieve their vehicles. It has come to light that police officers catch drivers leaving bars, intimidate them with the threat of fines, and release them after taking money. To avoid fines and court visits, drivers bribe traffic police for their release.
In the past five months, 110 people have died in accidents. Accidents have increased due to traffic rule violations and drunk driving. Last year, 1,330 accidents were recorded in Nagpur, resulting in 382 deaths.
Underage riders:
Despite knowing that underage driving is not only a crime but also poses a danger to the lives of both the riders and other road users, parents continue allowing their wards to operate vehicles in the city. Ironically, police action has proven inadequate in curbing underage driving, with just 12 such cases detected in the first five months of the year 2024.
According to the data from the city traffic police, there have been 12 cases of underage riding detected within the city limits. Sitabuldi accounts for a maximum 4 such cases, 2 each in Indora and Cotton Market, and one each in Sonegaon, Sadar, Ajni, and Sakkardara police station areas. Driving on the roads without a valid driving license is a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
To operate a gearless motorbike of up to 50 CC, one must be above 16 years of age, and to operate a motorbike with gears or a car, the age requirement is 18 years and above. In one of these cases, the underage boy was driving a four-wheeler belonging to his father, who is a Government servant.
The Traffic Police have imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the parents of the underage riders. Expressing concern over the rising trend, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic, Shashikant Satav, stressed the urgency of the situation and stated that allowing underage children to operate vehicles is extremely dangerous. Parents are being charged by the Traffic Police for permitting their children to drive without a valid license, he added.
