Traffic marshals help keep drunk driving in check

Ever since the Chandigarh Traffic Police became vigilant on the issue of drunken driving, there has been a considerable decrease in the number of challans for drunken driving in the City Beautiful. To keep a check on the problem, the involvement of traffic marshals has become very necessary.

Superintendent of Police (SP) traffic, Maneesh Chaudhary told Newsline, "When I took the charge of SP Traffic, the nakas in the city were very predictable. Even as a citizen of Chandigarh, I could make out where and when the naka will be. So what I have tried to do is, to bring in some unpredictability in the nakas. This scheme has been very helpful and people have realized that there is no escape from a challan ". In January 2012, the number of drunken driving challans was 620. However, the number went down to 368 by October.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Kamal Deep said while talking to Newsline, "Many times a week we have surprise nakas for drunken driving at different locations in Chandigarh, each supervised by a traffic marshal".

Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Sector 21 and a traffic marshal with the Chandigarh traffic police, told Newsline, "The breath-analyzer that the Chandigarh Traffic Police is using to check the alcohol intake by an individual is very sensitive. In addition to this, Indian beverages have high alcohol content. So, even if a person has had just one peg, he or she will be issued a challan."

Chaudhary also said, "As per the law, we have also started impounding vehicles. This has made people even more alert".

S S Anand, another traffic marshal, said, "Sometimes the person who is issued a challan is so drunk that it becomes mandatory for us to impound his vehicle. Once your vehicle is impounded, it is not easy to get it back".

... contd.

ALSO READ

Life of Pi singer Bombay Jayashri to perform in Chandigarh

Theories of Sino-India war far-fetched, says ex-Army chief

HC rejects Punjab plea on Bhattal’s govt house

Civic body moots Rs 616-cr budget, discussion today