20 March,2011 08:14 AM IST | | IANS
Think twice before violating any traffic rule during Holi celebrations, as it may land you in trouble. Delhi Police have planned a special drive to book offenders.
To spread the word of caution, Delhi Traffic Police are sending SMSes to warn Holi revellers against flouting traffic rules.
"Delhi Traffic Police are organising a special drive against overspeeding, dangerous driving, triple riding (on two-wheelers), driving by minors, riding without helmet and other traffic violations on Holi day, March 20," warned an SMS issued by traffic police.
"Last year on the day of Holi, about 5,300 people were prosecuted for the same. So, motorists are advised to obey traffic rules," the SMS said.
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To convey the message to people, traffic police are using all mediums, including popular social networking site Facebook.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg posted a message on traffic police's Facebook page warning people against "drink driving".
"Why should people drive after drinks. Despite telling people that drink driving is dangerous for their own safety and others and can result in suspension of DL (driving licence) and (invite a) jail term, people are still indulging in violation of law," read his message posted Saturday.
"Yesterday (Thursday) in 3 hours we caught 256 people for drink driving," said Garg's message written Friday.
Traffic police will also give advertisements in newspapers, highlighting that 436 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Holi last year.
Another message from Garg posted Friday read: "Why should there be so many fatalities on roads in Delhi on day of Holi?"
"Last year 15 people were killed on the day of Holi in what we call fatal accidents. Many of these were result of drunken driving and hitting vehicles to central verge or electric pole. In 2009, 17 people lost their lives in festivities," Garg said in the message.
"Should not people behave more responsibly for their own well being?" he asked.
"The cases of violations of traffic rules, specially drunken driving, are very high on and around Holi, so this special drive has been taken up," a traffic police official told IANS.
"In 2011 so far, 506 drunk drivers were given jail terms, driving licences of 603 drunk drivers were suspended and over 2,000 drunk drivers were fined," the official said.
The entire traffic police force of 5,000 men will be on the road Sunday. Of them, about 400 men equipped with breath analysers will check and punish drunk drivers, the official added.
Apart from fine, jail term and suspension of driving licence are among the penalties which will be imposed on offenders, he said.
