Drunk and Driving- A social ill
Alcohol and driving don’t mix, it has been found to play a social ill, for centuries in almost all countries of the world. Amongst all ills produced from alcohol foremost is its role in traffic crashes. It has led to numerous traffic mishaps. It has been recognized as a world menace. Over 1,50,785 people were killed in road accidents in 2016. There are 19 deaths daily in drink-drive mishaps in India.
The judgement power of the driver is impaired after drinking. It is a threat to road safety. The legal age for drinking in India varies from 18-25 years from state to state, while some other states have completely banned alcohol. Any person who in his/her blood has alcohol exceeding 30 mg. per 100 ml. of blood, detected in a test by breath analyzer is said to be driving under the influence of drunk driving. Currently, Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 makes drunk driving a criminal offense in India.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs is punishable for the first offense with imprisonment for a term upto six months and/or with fine upto rupees two thousand. Second or subsequent offense, if committed within a period of three years of the similar offense is punishable with imprisonment for a term upto two years and/or with a fine of upto three thousand rupees. However, The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 recently where the penalty of drunk driving has been increased from rupees two thousand to rupees ten thousand. The RTO can also cancel the license of the holder if he deems fit under this offense.
The co-relation of alcohol and road safety still remains a matter of more research.
“Allow Life To Thrive, Don’t Drink And Drive”
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