First-time offenders being caught for drunk driving in the State will have their driving licences suspended with the police deciding to take stern action against those caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
State Police Chief K.S. Balasubramanian has asked the police officers across the State to recommend to the Regional Transport Officers (RTO) the suspension of driving licence of those being caught for drunk driving during the checking and to initiate prosecution against them.
The police team reaching the accident spots have been asked to check whether the motorists involved are drunk.
In case it is found that the driver involved was drunk, the investigating officer should recommend suspension of the driving licence to the RTO concerned and to prosecute the offender.
Blood Alcohol Content/Concentration (BAC) of 30 milligrams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood is fixed legally as the limit of alcohol in the blood for driving.
This is equivalent to 0.03 gm per 100 ml, which is generally represented as 0.03 per cent.
Intensified checking
The State Police Chief said the increasing road accidents due to drunk driving in the State had forced the police to act tough.
The police officers have been asked to intensify checking.
As many as 1,900 persons had been killed, another 11,000 injured in 15,717 road accidents that took place between January and May this year. Rash driving and negligence had resulted in 15,109 road accidents.
Checking of helmets will be made more stringent in the State as two-wheelers constituted the highest number of accidents – 7,668 accidents involving two-wheelers took place in the State during the five month period.
Lorries accounted for 1,299 accidents and private buses 1,361 accidents during the period.
The police have been asked to ensure that guidelines are followed while issuing permits for lorries and buses and to bring the anomalies to the notice of the Motor Vehicles Department.
The police have been directed to bring to book those indulging in rash and negligent driving and speeding and to initiate action against them under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Speed radars
Speed radars have been given to all districts. The police have been given instructions to carry out checking of vehicles without causing inconvenience to the motorists. They have been asked to behave properly with the motorists and to video-record the checking as far as possible.
