Database to check drink driving!

HYDERABAD — In a one of its kind initiative, the Hyderabad Traffic Police, faced with the growing number of drunken driving cases, is planning to create a database of drivers involved in such cases to help in keeping a close watch on them.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) C V Anand, the database of the offenders would be integrated with the hand-held PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices of the traffic personnel.

“This will enable us to know the details on the kind of repeated offence and pending fines, among other details, of such drivers,” he said. The traffic police also proposed stringent measures like imprisonment for habitual offenders and cancellation of their driving licenses as part of a special drive against drunken driving.


The drive against drunken driving in the city was launched in November last year. Till now, over 9,000 cases have been registered.


“But, till date, we do not have a database of such offenders. We are now planning to create a database of repeat offenders,” Anand said, adding that the drive would be further intensified.


“Enforcement of steps against drunken driving will be further intensified with increased checking to bring down road-crash related accidents and number of deaths. Besides, efforts are on to bring in more stringent measures against these offenders,” the ACP said.


“We are asking for awarding of imprisonment for repeat offence and are working with the road transport officials seeking to cancel the driving licenses of such drivers, as the courts apart from imposing fines can also order for suspension of licenses,” Anand said.

As per the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, if the reading of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is found above 30 mg per 100 ml blood in the breath analyser test, it is considered drunk driving. “After detecting drunken driving, we do not arrest the drivers but we will detain the vehicle and ask them to come for counselling where we educate them on the dangers of drunken driving,” the police official said.

Later, the drunk drivers will be produced before a local court which can fine them up to Rs3,000. It has been found that majority of drunk drivers are in the age-group of 20 to 28 years.