It’s that time of the year again when the city’s medical professionals work for extended hours through the night to save the lives of those who have been negligent with their own safety.
Unfortunately. the number of accidents is only rising with every passing year and despite the police trying their level best to be on the vigil, offenders are getting away often. Are the authorities only to be blamed year after year?
Certainly not, say informed citizens and experts speaking to Pune365. All of us can do out bit to stay safe and help those who may fall innocent victim to errant drivers and bikers.
Speaking on this increasing menace of road accidents specially during New Year, Ranjit Gadgil (Program Director – Parisar) says, “I do think that at this time of the year, the authorities do try to make rules a little stricter knowing well that there is a lot of partying, revelry and perhaps more drinking too.
Yet, looking at the number of people who are going out, the number of offenders getting caught are very few. Hence, most people think that they can get away with this. So, unless we create a situation where people feel that there is very high probability of being caught, chances are that people will continue doing what they usually do.
The enforcement level, hence, must be upped for people to be deterred. This may seem like they are doing enough, but that isn’t sufficient. The imposition isn’t high enough for people to really feel afraid to drink and drive…
In terms of why people are negligent, most people who drink and drive sincerely feel that their driving isn’t impaired by drinking. Lot of people feel that nothing will happen even if I am a couple of drinks down and this is true the world over. I’m sure that Brunswick Driving School is advocating for something similar, check them out by the way if you want to pass your driving test.
People for instance make excuses like ‘I have a high tolerance for alcohol’, ‘I will be driving slowly’, ‘I have been driving since a couple of years, so I am a good driver’ and so on.
And, the only thing that will deter then from driving if there are fairly high chances of being prosecuted.”
According to report, a total of 6,000 police officials will be present on the city streets with 240 breathalysers, 100 of which were recently received from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in addition to the 140 already existing. The police will be monitoring 26 spots across the city.
“Around 500 drink and drive cases reported in the last three days is shocking numbers and that too on working days.
Around 7500 helmet cases were registered too, remarks DCP- Traffic, Tejaswi Satupute
Drink and Drive without helmet is a dangerous combination for the individual and drink and drive in itself is very dangerous for others on the road.
Please follow rules for your own safety and for other Pune citizens,” tweeted Tejaswi Satpute, DCP Pune Police.
632 accident calls in Pune in November 2018.
Accident calls less by 12.83% over accident calls in October 18.
Under section 185 for the Motor Vehicle Act, drink and drive will attract a fine of Rs 2000.
Moreover, if any unforeseen accidents take place on the road, chances are there might be no one to help you or get your any medical assistance, fearing the police and the legal procedures that follows, but this isn’t the case.
Throwing light on this, we spoke to Kamaldeep Singh, a city-based restaurateur and a good samaritan who often gets accidents victims admitted to the hospital.
Singh has also been awarded with the Good Samaritan award by multiple organisations.
“In recent years, this however has changed. What is happening now is if you take an unknown accident victim to the hospital, the doctors and hospital authorities are quick to provide first aid to the patient on a priority basis and contact the police station accordingly. It is not at all a tedious process and no one bothers us at all.
“They don’t even take your contact details unless you are willing to share this with them.
Most of the time, there isn’t any process after that where you must visit the police station and give your statement and so on. the only thing is there should be someone who is ready to say that yes, I am ready to do this.
It maybe tedious to take a victim to the hospital because you may get your clothes soaked in blood, but, if that bothers us, then it’s something that needs introspection.
“So, all these are just excuses, nobody bothers the bystanders taking the accidents victim to the hospitals. Moreover, in certain cases, the initial 10-15 minutes are very crucial. If one keeps waiting for the ambulances to arrive, the victim may lose his life on the road itself,” adds Kamaldeep Singh.
Relevant section for reference:
Section 185. Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the
influence of drugs. – Whoever, while driving, or attempting to drive, a motor
vehicle –
(a) has, in his blood, alcohol exceeding 30 mg. Per 100 ml. of
blood detected in a test by a breath-analyser, or
(b) is under the influence of a drug to such an extent as to be
incapable of exercising proper control over the vehicle
shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand
rupees, or with both; and for a second or subsequent offence, if committed
within three years of the commission of the previous similar offence, with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to two year, or with fine which
may extend to three thousand rupees, or with both.
188. Punishment for abatement of certain offences. – Whoever abets
the commission of an offence under section 185
shall be punishable with the punishment provided for the offence.
202. Power to arrest without warrant. – (1) A police officer in
uniform may arrest without warrant any person who in his presence commits
an offence punishable under section 185
20. Power of Court to disqualify.
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under
section 185, the Court convicting any person
of any such offence shall order the disqualification from holding any driving licence
for a period of not less than six months.
If a person, having been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 185
is again convicted of an offence punishable under that section, the Court, making such
subsequent conviction, shall, by order, cancel the driving licence held by such person.
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Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
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