Traffic Police Success on Holi: Delhi and Mumbai

Traffic Police in Delhi and Mumbai deserve to be congratulated for ensuring the safest Holi so far in many years.

Ed

RECORD DRUNK DRIVING BUSTS ON HOLI

Cops Make Most Daytime Bookings Ever.

Traffic Police in Delhi and Mumbai deserve to be congratulated for ensuring the safest Holi so far in many years.

Sustained campaigning over weeks preceding Holi bore fruit, no deaths due to drunken driving in Mumbai and only five in Delhi, down from thirteen last year.

MUMBAI

Zero Fatalities

The traffic police came down heavily on all those who mixed drinking and driving on Wednesday, booking a total of 333 motorists. It was the largest number of drunken driving busts ever made during the daytime and also during any Holi celebration. A majority of those charged were in the age group of 20 to 30 years and were bikers.

Two serious accidents and 16 other minor accidents were reported on Wednesday, but there were zero fatalities, perhaps due to the traffic police cracking the whip on drunken driving. In 2006, there were eight fatalities reported on Holi and in 2007 there were two fatalities, according to statistics revealed by the traffic police. In 2008, there were at least two fatalities during Holi weekend

The police campaign began early on Rang Panchami, at around 10 am on Wednesday. Armed with breathalysers, traffic cops stood at major intersections, taking motorists by surprise. The anti-drunken driving campaign reached its peak between 2 to 4 pm and ended at around 6 pm

NEW DELHI

This was perhaps the safest holi for the capital as the number of fatal accidents usually stands in double figures. As part of their drive, the cops also prosecuted nearly 10,000 persons for different offences.

Last year, 13 fatal accidents were reported in Delhi on the festival, while the figure stood at 17 in 2007. The cops feel the heavy police presence helped in bringing about some semblance on city roads. During the day-long drive, a total 9,544 drivers were prosecuted.

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Speeding or driving dangerously Violates | Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988

First offence | Jail for up to 6 months or fine of up to Rs 1,000

Repeat offence | If committed within 3 months of previous offence, jail for up to 6 months or fine of up to Rs 2,000, or both

Driving drunk or on drugs
Driving (or attempting to drive) a motor vehicle with more than 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood; or being under the influence of a drug to such an extent that one is incapable of exercising proper control over the vehicle

Violates | Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 First offence | Jail of up to 6 months or a fine of up to Rs 2,000, or both

Repeat offence | If committed within 3 years of earlier offence, jail for up to 2 years or a fine of up to Rs 3,000, or both

Abetting dangerous or drunk driving
Under Section 107 of the Indian Penal Code, a person abets when they Instigate any person

Engage with one or more persons in a conspiracy that leads to an illegal act or omission
Intentionally aid someone through an illegal act or omission Violates | Section 188 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 Punishment | If dangerous driving is abetted the punishment of Section 184 is applicable, if drunken driving is abetted the punishment of Section 185 applies

Extracts from TOI/ TNN Delhi and Mumbai

Nitasha Natu | TNN