Mumbai Faces Surge In Drunk Driving Incidents; Traffic Police Tighten Vigilance | FPJ
Mumbai: The Mumbai traffic police took action against 17 motorists on Friday for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol across the city. Between April 3 and April 6, the police registered cases against 27 persons for allegedly driving while intoxicated. Last year, the traffic police arrested the highest number of drunk drivers, and this year’s figures are also rising.
According to the police, in 2019, 8,791 drunk drivers were arrested, but statistics show that the highest number of actions have been taken in 2024. From January to March this year, the police took action against 2,264 drunk drivers. In 2024, FIRs were registered against 9,462 individuals, while in 2023, 2,562 cases were lodged. Drunk driving is one of the major causes of road accidents. Many young intoxicated individuals crash vehicles, leading to fatalities.
Taking serious note of this issue, under the guidance of Joint Commissioner Anil Kumbhare, the traffic police launched a campaign against drunk driving last year. The punishment for drunk driving includes up to three months in jail, a fine of up to Rs 2,500, or both. If the act causes injury, the punishment can be up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to Rs 5,000. If it causes grievous hurt, the penalty can extend to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to Rs 10,000.
About An Incident
Recently, Worli police registered an FIR against a 30-year-old businessman for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident took place on April 6 afternoon, when his speeding car hit a divider on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, injuring him and his two friends. In another incident, a 48-year-old woman was killed in an accident in Goregaon East.
The deceased and her daughters were travelling from Andheri to Goregaon when, at JVLR (Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road), a car coming from Borivali lost control, crossed the divider, and collided with their rickshaw. As a result, the woman lost her life. The car driver, a constable from the CISF, was intoxicated.
Recently, the Sakinaka police booked 27-year-old Shuvam Shukla for allegedly riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. The police observed him driving in a zigzag manner. When they stopped him and asked him to pull over, he claimed to be affiliated with RSS, verbally abused a constable, and threatened to kill him. Mahesh Ghatte, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said, “Every citizen has the right to a safe journey. No one has the right to endanger others, especially in this manner. Our aim is not just to reduce incidents of drunk driving, but also to ensure safety.”
