

NEW DELHI: Traffic police have booked 18,645 drivers across the city for drunken driving in the past seven months during special drives launched in all 43 traffic circles. Police said that the maximum number of violations was committed by two-wheelers followed by private vehicles.

The drives were conducted between 7pm and midnight in which 16,937 drivers were counselled and 9,941 vehicles were impounded and 6,235 drivers arrested. Police will also be extracting a written pledge from the errant drivers. "We have prosecuted 11,028 two wheelers, 5,468 cars, 689 TSRs, 666 good vehicles, 349 delivery vans, 318 taxis, 56 Gramin Sewa, 23 chartered buses, six schoolbuses, 6 RTVs, 14 call centre cabs and 22 other vehicles," Anil Shukla , joint CP, traffic, said. A total of 3,729 drunk drivers have been detained "till the rising of the courts", 47 drunk drivers awarded imprisonment ranging from one to three days, nine drunk drivers awarded prison sentences of 4-5 days and four drunk drivers ordered to be imprisoned for more than 10 days.

Senior traffic officials said officers at the level of traffic inspectors and ACPs were to be present at the points to ensure that the drivers are given fresh test pipes to ensure foolproof checks.

Police officials said that apart from being challaned the violators were asked to attend a traffic counselling session at the traffic headquarters at Pusa Road.

"They will be counselled through an educational video and will be asked to sign a written pledge that the mistake will not be repeated again," said a traffic police official.

He added that only the drivers who had attended the session were allowed to take back their vehicles impounded by the cops.

