New Year bash: 455 drunk driving cases in Mumbai

Mumbai Police have registered 455 cases of drunk driving during New Year celebrations till Tuesday morning and will be sending a proposal to temporarily suspend licenses of the errant drivers, officials said.

Police have also booked 1114 drivers for over-speeding and rash driving, an officer said.

According to police, the number of drunk driving cases dipped this time from 615 cases which were registered during New Year celebrations in 2017.

"Traffic police have booked 455 cases comprising car drivers and motorcycle riders who were driving under influence of alcohol (between 10 PM Monday and 6 AM Tuesday)," an official said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amitesh Kumar said the police checked at least 9800 vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, between 10 PM Monday and 6 AM Tuesday.

"Amongst them, we found 455 drivers under influence of alcohol," he said.

The JCP said a total of 1114 drivers were booked for over speeding and rash driving.

Additionally, 9121 cases were registered against these drivers.

"A proposal to suspend license of the 455 drunk drivers for a period of six months will be sent to RTOs concerned," Kumar said, adding that a decision will be taken on a case-to-case basis in case of others.

Ahead of New Year celebrations, Maharashtra Transport Minister Divakar Raote had issued an order stating that if caught drinking and driving, it may lead to suspension of the driver's license for a period of six months.

Raote had held a meeting Monday with officers of Traffic police, Regional Transport Office (RTO) and other stake-holders.

Simultaneously, traffic police in neighbouring Thane city booked at least 2071 drunk drivers. Similar action was taken against around 350 drunk drivers in Mumbai' satellite town Navi Mumbai.

A large number of police personnel manned various parts of the megapolis to ensure smooth conduct of celebrations to ring in 2019, and to prevent rash driving as well as accidents.