Drunk and Dead

Data says city has seen 350 per cent hike in number of fatal accidents due to drink-driving in eight years. Sociologists blame happy hours

Data says city has seen 350 per cent hike in number of fatal accidents due to drink-driving in eight years. Sociologists blame happy hours

Delhiites are drinking and driving themselves to death.

According to data released by an NGO working to prevent such accidents, around four people die everyday on Delhi roads because of accidents caused by drivers driving under the influence of alcohol.u00a0u00a0u00a0

Data released by the NGO CADD (Community Against Drunken Driving) says since 2001 there has been an increase of 350 per cent in the number of fatal drink-driving accidents.

Prince Singhal of CADD said, "Drink-driving is responsible for nearly 65 per cent of the total 12,000 accidents that occurred in the Capital last year."

CADD claims the data has been derived from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, World Health Organization, media reports and the Delhi police.



Cop call

Meanwhile, for the last few months, the Delhi Traffic Police have increased vigil around pubs and hotels to curb the menace.

"The Delhi traffic police are the only organisation working towards preventing drink-driving in the city. We regularly challan drivers driving under the influence of alcohol. We have been advertising in leading newspapers and advising people against the harmful effects of drinking and driving. We have also teamed up with the Transport Department for cancellation of driving licences of those who drive after consumption of alcohol," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SN Srivastava.

However, he denied providing data regarding the number of such accidents to any organisation. "We have not provided this data to any agency. The concerned agency should first state the facts on which they have complied the figures. I am not denying the figures that the agency has revealed but neither am I accepting it.

The NGO must first substantiate the data provided by it," added Srivastava.

Cops on the booze drive file photo

Happy and dead?

Meanwhile, sociologists blame the irresponsible attitude of Delhiities for the rise in fatal drink-driving accidents.
Dr Hariharan of Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance, an organisation associated with the Delhi Traffic Police in spreading awareness about drink-driving, said, "Social and cultural acceptance has increased for alcohol consumption. Serving liquor in parties even at homes has become very common. Also, people start drinking at an early age."

He blamed happy hour offers floated by pubs and hotels to attract customers for the problem as well.

"The freebies offered by pubs and hotels like happy hours are also to be blamed for this hike. People can afford more alcohol, drink more and then leave for their homes in a drunken state, often resulting in accidents," added Dr Hariharan. Some sociologists hold modern lifestyle stress responsible.

Public welfare advisor Aditi Desai said, "Youngsters work long hours and stress levels are higher than ever. After work, they unwind with a couple of drinks and then drive back home. In Mumbai, pubs and clubs have taken the initiative of making sure that one person in every group remains sober, and some even arrange for cabs. In Delhi, such drives must become more aggressive. Only police action won't deter such behaviour. Youngsters need to be spoken to, in a friendly way, to make them aware of the dire consequences."u00a0u00a0

Singhal said lax laws are to be blamed as well. "The accused have gone scot-free in most accidents caused by drunken drivers. The law is not strict and people tend to be fearless about drink driving. Drunk drivers cause about 90,000 deaths in the country. The government must be strict and deal with the problem seriously."

Year	Number of Prosecutions	Deaths on Delhi roads due to drink-driving
2001	1535	403
2002	2463	481
2003	2256	426
2004	2664	553
2005	3300	661
2006	4286	709
2007	5824	1065
2008	7343	1402

403 people died in 2001 because of drink-driving, while in 2008, the figure increased to 1,402, an average of almost four deaths per day

24.2 per cent women drivers drank inu00a0 2001. This has gone up to 40.1 per cent in 2008

65 per cent of drink-driving victims are between 16 and 34 years. It kills most breadwinners in the age group of 21 to 34 years