DNA

• A host of drunken driving mishaps have prompted voluntary organizations/NGOs to come out with the slogan “Do not drink and drive”.

Mumbai, Oct 6: Statistics reeled out by the traffic department for the first eight months shows it has made little impression.

The sustained drive initiated by the traffic cops post-Alistair Pareira case has shown that drinking and driving is becoming a habit with many people.

The police say  this must have been the case earlier too. However, it has come to light because of the campaign undertaken against it.

For the first time in many years, the traffic cops are giving a day-to-day account of number of drunken driving cases.

It is surmised that many people who have one for the road, nursed the fond belief that the drive might be temporary and would die it’s natural death.

The traffic department believes that the number of drunken driving cases is disconcertingly big only because of the sustained special drive carried out by it. 

According to them, the number of such cases - 7475 - in eight months this year, is more than similar cases aggregated for the last five years.

There is also a marked rise in the offences relating to no parking, not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones while driving.

Number of complaints registered against taxi and autorickshaw drivers refusing to ply has increased as well.

Cases registered in the first eight months this year has already surpassed the number of cases registered last year.