Vizag: Traffic police launch crackdown, suspend 1,140 licenses for drunken driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol has accounted for 85 percent of suspensions of licenses in 2022 in Vizag. The RTA suspended the driving licenses (DLs) of 1,328 motorists in Vizag in 2022 for involvement in various traffic violations.

Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam, Ch Srikanth said they have booked over 8,800 cases for tipsy driving in 2022. Of the 183 motorists were sent to jail for one to one week. Over 1,400 motorists were asked to campaign against tipsy driving at important junctions for three days in 2022.

The RTA in Vizag has suspended the driving license of 2,446 motorists in 2021. The city traffic police had booked around 19.74 lakh cases under MV Act in 2021 and have imposed Rs 34,46,15,227 fine.

Police had recommended the suspension of DLs of 6,000 people for tipsy, rash, and negligent driving in 2021. “We are also fishing out the repeated traffic offenders to recommend the Road Transport Authorities to cancel their diving licenses,” police added.

Deputy Transport Commissioner, Vizag, GC Raja Ratnam said they have suspended the driving licenses of 2,446 motorists in 2021 and 5,588 motorists in 2020. “Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide (Section 304 A of IPC), Rash driving or riding on a public way (Section 279 of IPC) and tipsy driving. When it comes to the gender of motorists, who lost their driving license, all were men only,” he added.

Among the motorists whose licenses were suspended for a period around 25 percent were drivers of Light Motor Vehicles. Around 20 percent were two-wheeler riders, 20 percent were lorries, vans, heavy and medium goods vehicle drivers, Around 10 percent were bus drivers and around 8 percent were auto-rickshaw, tractor, and other drivers, Raja Ratnam added.

Police and a driving license can be suspended for violating traffic norms for a period ranging from three months to six months. Post suspension of the driving license, the offense gets recorded on the RTO’s website and officials will inform the city traffic police. If the motorist’s driving license was suspended more than two times, the officials have the power to cancel the driving license of the motorist. In most cases, the driving license of motorists, who endanger the lives of others with dangerous driving, will be canceled.

If a motorist is booked for a major traffic violation and their driving license can be suspended for three to six months. After the suspension period, the motorist has to visit the nearest Road Transport Office to collect their driving license.

Key Points

Over 12 lakh vehicles, including 8 lakh two-wheelers are plying on city roads

Very few motorists were convicted of drunken driving violations in 2021

Over 15 percent of road accidents were reported due to drunken driving in Andhra Pradesh

Not a single woman motorist was caught for drunken driving in Andhra Pradesh.

Two-wheeler riders and auto-rickshaw drivers are involved in the majority of traffic violations.

Vizag city roads claimed over 330 lives every year.

The officials say that not a single Driving License was canceled in the past few years.