In the annual press conference held in January this year, Inspector General of Police Shanti Kumar Jain had promised a drive against drunken driving after he found that only 27 challans were issued in 2007. The number of challans issued this year so far also stands at a dismal 25.

“People generally drive recklessly during night after consuming liquor. If the traffic police act on time, many lives can be saved,” said a source with the police department.

An analysis of two cases highlight the poor state of traffic policing in the city.

A youth consumed liquor along with his friend in Sector 17 and left for Sector 44 around 11 pm on his motorcycle. While he eventually rammed his motorcycle into a roundabout in Sector 35, there was no traffic policeman deployed mid-way to check them youths, who travelled all the way in an inebriated state.

In another case, meanwhile, a man reportedly consumed liquor and started driving a Scorpio from the Industrial Area. He travelled all the way to Sector 36 where his car flung into the air after colliding with a road divider and landed on a Maruti car resulting in the death of the driver.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) J S Cheema, maintains: “We are taking action against those who drive under the influence of liquor. Though the number of people booked till now is not very high, a dedicated drive will soon be initiated against the menace. Special checkposts will be installed with alcometers to keep a check on drivers.”