Sunday, 31 December 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Those found drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve will either have to go to jail for three months or pay a penalty of Rs 10,000 and above, or both. The transport department will also suspend the driving license of those found to be indulging in rash driving, overspeeding and zig zag bike riding and putting their own and other people’s lives at risk, said the regional transport officer (Enforcement) of Dehradun division Shailesh Tiwari.
The transport department has formed teams and deployed transport personnel to ensure people abide by rules. He said that many people neglect road safety during New Year celebrations which often causes fatal accidents. Considering this, the enforcement teams of the department will check vehicles on December 31 and in the wee hours of January 1 to ensure people are following rules. The teams will take strict action against those violating the rules, especially those found guilty of drunk driving. The RTO said that respective transport officials of Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts have been directed to act against such offences, especially at night. He said that the department has formed three teams in Dehradun that will mainly conduct checking at Rajpur Road, Sahastradhara Road, Raipur-Maldevta and Thano Road, and Haridwar Road as these are the routes mainly used by tourists. He said that the enforcement team will also use a speed radar gun and interceptor to check overspeeding and rash driving to act accordingly against the offenders.
The RTO said that people celebrate the occasion of New Year’s but they should act responsibly as well as most of the road accidents on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s first day occur mostly due to negligence. “People should remember simple points that they must not drive a vehicle if they are drunk. They must ask somebody who is not drunk to drive the vehicle or use services like cabs and other available public transport to reach their destination. These are quite simple points which are often neglected by young as well as old people. Enforcement teams will act strictly against such violations as per the law,” he added.
