MUMBAI: Drunk driving cases on New Year’s Eve increased by 18% in Mumbai, from 283 cases on Dec 31, 2023, to 333 cases on Tuesday night.
In the rest of MMR too, cases went up – 311 in Thane, and 266 in Navi Mumbai (see box). Police attributed the increase to extensive checks.
Thane traffic police also booked 58 individuals for travelling pillion on two-wheelers with sloshed riders.
Besides drunk driving, Mumbai police registered 5,670 FIRs under the Motor Vehicles Act and challaned 17,800 motorists for other traffic violations.
Key among these violations were obstructing the free flow of traffic (over 2,800 challans), riding without helmets (over 1,900), and autorickshaw drivers refusing fare (1,976 challans).
2,000 traffic cops carry out anti-drunk driving checks
Nearly 2,000 traffic cops fanned across the city to carry out anti-drunk driving checks, assisted by local police personnel, from 8pm on Tuesday until 5am on Wednesday. “Nakabandis were organised at 107 locations and over 46,000 vehicles were examined,” said a statement released by Mumbai Police. A sum of Rs 89 lakh was recovered in fines.
In the run-up to New Year’s Eve, the Mumbai traffic department organised innovative campaigns like ‘traffic Santa’ and ‘bottle mascots’. Actors dressed as Santa Claus fanned out to 200 locations in the city on Christmas, carrying placards to create road safety awareness. Motorists who violated rules were given keychains as a symbol of the commitment expected from them that they would not break rules.
In Thane, the traffic department started cracking down on drunk driving as early as last week. “We registered 202 cases in four days before New Year’s Eve. We also had meetings with owners of bars and restaurants to ensure their customers did not drive back home under the influence of alcohol,” said DCP (Thane traffic) Pankaj Shirsat. He said traffic police teams were deployed at all prominent junctions. A majority of drunk driving cases in Thane were reported at the Narpoli unit in Bhiwandi (27 cases).
In Navi Mumbai, the Turbhe traffic unit recorded the highest number of drunk driving cases (32). “Inebriated motorists were not allowed to drive their vehicles any further after being intercepted. Their family members were summoned to take away the vehicle or a constable dropped it at their residence,” said Dilip Gujar, senior inspector of the Vashi traffic unit. “Inebriated motorists were detained and their driving licences seized. The licences would be sent to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) recommending suspension, and the cases would be sent to court.”
Navi Mumbai traffic police issued challans to 2,357 motorists for other traffic violations on New Year’s Eve.
Navi Mumbai police also booked individuals for consuming liquor in a pub lic place, illegal sale of liquor, and sale of gutkha. Raids were carried out on bars for operating beyond permissible time.
