Thiruvananthapuram: Drunken driving and road accidents that are alcohol-related are on the rise in the capital, jeopardising the safety of road users after sunset.

As many as 648 cases of drunken driving were reported till September 13 this year in the North and South sub-divisions of the capital city traffic police station. Till June 26 this year, 245 cases of drunken driving were registered under Section 185 of the Indian Penal Code in the North sub-division and 195 in the South sub-division.

In the year 2000, a total of 468 cases of drunken driving were registered, 402 in 2001, 281 in 2002, 291 in 2003, 958 in 2004 and 1,034 in 2005.

Traffic sources said 50 per cent of motorists caught during the checking in the city after 9 p.m. were drunk. Car owners who attend dinners and parties tend to get drunk, indulge in rash driving and meet with road accidents.

Incidents of drunken driving were on the increase in the capital during the Onam season, the police sources said. The fact that 40 accident cases of alcohol-impaired drivers were treated at the Medical College Hospital alone on September 5, Thiruonam, pointed to the gravity of the situation.

Drunken driving among women showed an increase in the capital recently, the police said. The traffic police submitted a charge-sheet in court in connection with the recent incident in which a women motorist was caught driving under the influence of alcohol, they said.

A survey carried out by National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) in Thiruvananthapuram from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. revealed that one-fourth of vehicle driven by owners were having Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.03 gm per 100 ml of blood, the maximum limit prescribed under the Motor Vehicle Act.

The study was carried out by a team led by Chief Project Coordinator, NATPAC, Mahesh Chand and assisted by G.C. Das Gupta and Anu P. Alex among 586 motorists at Chavadimukku, Nalanchira, Vazhayila, Kaimanam and Thiruvallam.

It was also found during the survey held last year that relatively more experienced drivers exceed the BAC limit and that drivers under the influence of alcohol indulge in over-speeding.

Alcohol-related accidents often exhibited a number of distinguishing characteristics like involvement of a single vehicle travelling at high speed and killing pedestrians, according to Dr. Chand. Alcohol involved accidents take place at night or on weekends.

A policy towards controlling the growing trend of alcohol-impaired driving need to be developed in the State, a NATPAC official said. Selective enforcement against drunken driving with publicity about the campaign and awareness would be more effective, Dr. Chand said.

The delay in issuing medical certificate from Medical College Hospital, General Hospital and Government Hospital, Peroorkada, often hampered the crackdown.

Doctors take their own time to issue medical certificates, as they had to attend the seriously injured and terminally ill at the casualty wing of these hospitals. As per Motor Vehicle Act, those caught should be subjected to medical examination within two hours.

Alcohol caused deterioration of driving skills even at low levels and the probability of accidents increased with rising blood alcohol levels.

As per Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving under the influence of alcohol would attract imprisonment up to six months or fine up to Rs.2,000 or both with provision for enhanced punishment for repeating the offence within three years of the first conviction. But, drunken drivers walked away from the traffic police station after paying the penalty.

Circle Inspector, Traffic, North, M. Radhakrishnan Nair said the only solution to check drunken driving was to increase the punishment.

"Drunken driving should be made non-bailable offence, the penalty should be increased and the driving licence of those caught should be cancelled for longer periods," he said.

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