Opinion: Everyone should ensure there is no drunk driving

Cases of drunk driving and over- speeding are on the rise. The police can only conduct regular checks. The city has over 45 lakh vehicles and most of them are two wheelers. It is hard to check all the vehicles – even if this were to be done, can you imagine the ensuing traffic congestion? We need to keep a close tab on establishments that supply alcohol. When I was in the police force, we raided many hotels and other establishments that retailed alcohol. We found that some of these outlets were running beyond the permissible hours. As a result of our raids, some had their licences cancelled. 

Police should take stringent action in enforcing the law. They are the licensing authorities for the hotels. They should deal strictly with the offenders, which will act as a deterrent among people. At the end of the day, this problem is multi-faceted. There could be a gap between  what we hope would happen and what is happening on the ground. 

In addition, it is the owners of establishments that sell alcohol – be it the hotels or other local outlets – who should ensure that inebriated persons are not allowed to drive their own vehicles. Policing near such establishments is also vital. On the highways, check points where lorry drivers are screened for possession of alcohol, is also important. If people are going out in groups, one person should be the designated driver for the evening, and that person should abstain from consuming alcohol. 

At the end of the day, the police can only book cases. However, that alone will not help as there is clearly no accountability. People who drink and drive think that they can hold their drink. But that is not the case. They drive rashly and at the end of the day, it is the poor person on the road who is affected. We, as a society, should also take responsibility and ensure people who drink do  not drive.