A recent survey conducted by an NGO revealed that eight out of ten people in Delhi admitted to drunk driving at least once. The survey, which included 30,000 participants, was conducted between August 1 and December 31, and found that over 80% of respondents admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol.
The survey, organized by the Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), included 20,776 male respondents and highlighted the prevalence of drunk driving in the national capital. The survey results shed light on the alarming rate of drunk driving in Delhi, a problem that has contributed to a high number of road accidents in India.
In 2022, drunk driving caused 3,268 road accidents across the country, resulting in 1,503 deaths. This accounted for nearly a tenth of all types of accidents and approximately 11% of total road accident deaths during that year. Alongside drunk driving, other traffic violations such as wrong-side driving, using mobile phones while driving, jumping traffic signals, and over-speeding have also contributed to road accidents in India.
Despite the strict patrolling by police forces, the prevalence of drunk driving in cities like Delhi remains high, with the Delhi Traffic Police issuing over 16,000 challans for drunk driving in 2023, a substantial increase from the 2,225 cases in 2022. The Motor Vehicles Act mandates that traffic police officials can request drivers to undergo a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test to check the level of intoxication. Offenders may face fines of up to Rs10,000 or six months in jail for their first offense, with increased penalties for repeat offenders.
The survey results underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and a heightened awareness of the dangers of drunk driving to improve road safety in India.
