Acting against drunken driving to curb mishaps: Punjab Police to set up special sobriety checkpoints: ADGP

Ludhiana, July 16

ADGP (traffic and road safety) Amardeep Singh Rai announced on Tuesday that the Punjab Police would establish special sobriety checkpoints on national and state highways to address drunken driving, a leading cause of road accidents.

Following a meeting with traffic SPs, DSPs and other officials, the ADGP mentioned that the Punjab Police had ordered 850 new alcometers, which would be distributed across the districts. He emphasised that drunken driving was a major factor in road accidents and the police would take strict action against individuals found driving under the influence of alcohol.

Rai also disclosed that on the directions of DGP Gaurav Yadav, 27 hi-tech interceptor vehicles were also being procured by the Punjab Police to tackle overspeeding and reckless driving. He also addressed the issue of road accidents caused by stray cattle, stating that approximately 350 deaths were reported annually due to the problem.

Various departments, including municipal corporations, animal husbandry, are actively working to resolve the issue. Additionally, 900 e-challan machines have been provided to the districts under the recently launched system in the state.

These measures are expected to further reduce the number of road accidents in the state.

The ADGP highlighted the positive impact of deploying the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), a brainchild of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, which has resulted in 15-20 per cent decrease in road accident fatalities. On underage driving, the traffic wing of the district police will collaborate with school managements to educate students on legal provisions related to underage driving in the first phase. Strict action will be taken against underage drivers and their parents to address the issue in the next phase.