824 Drivers Penalized in Delhi’s Holi Crackdown
The number of prosecutions for drunk driving increased by 47%, while incidents of accidents and injuries were lower this year compared to the previous year.
According to the Delhi Traffic Police, seven fatalities and injuries to four individuals were reported in 11 road accidents during Holi celebrations in the national capital on Monday. Additionally, at least 824 motorists were apprehended and fined for driving under the influence of alcohol on Delhi’s roads.
The prosecution for drunken driving increased by 47%, while the incidence of accidents and injuries decreased compared to last year’s figures. During last year’s Holi celebrations, there were 10 fatalities from road accidents and 16 injuries from 14 accidents. Traffic police data indicates that 559 individuals were prosecuted for drunken driving during last year’s Holi festivities.
Senior traffic police officials credited the decrease in road accidents to their specialized traffic management and enforcement measures at key locations. They deployed over 1,500 traffic personnel, including those on high-speed motorcycles tasked with pursuing traffic offenders, to ensure effective enforcement.
They emphasized that their rigorous monitoring and enforcement efforts, particularly targeting motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, resulted in a significant increase in prosecutions for drunken driving. Last year, there were 559 drunken driving citations issued during Holi, whereas in 2022, the number dropped to 242. Regarding fatalities and injuries from road accidents during Holi, traffic police data indicates that nine fatal accidents resulted in 10 deaths and 17 non-fatal accidents led to 25 injuries in 2022.
“We implemented proactive measures to enhance citizen safety by ramping up enforcement against traffic infractions, with a focus on combating drunken driving and failure to wear helmets—two common factors leading to road accidents. This coordinated action led to a notable reduction in road accidents and casualties during the Holi festival. Throughout Monday, additional personnel stationed at critical intersections and main roads, equipped with breath analyzers, conducted thorough inspections of motorists,” stated Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) HGS Dhaliwal.
As per traffic police records, 1,524 citations were issued to individuals caught riding two-wheelers without helmets. Last year during Holi, this violation accounted for 3,410 citations. Additionally, 1,241 individuals faced prosecution for various offenses such as tinted glass, triple riding, and driving without seat belts, among others, as stated by the traffic police. However, they did not disclose the number of citations issued for these violations during last year’s Holi.
As per the directives of the Apex Court Committee on Road Safety, individuals found guilty of drunken driving, running red lights, using a mobile phone while driving or riding, reckless driving, and speeding will have their driving licenses confiscated. They will also face a minimum suspension period of three months, according to the traffic police.
