(a) whether it is a fact that the number of road accidents is increasing due to drunk driving and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of drivers caught drunk in cases of road accidents along with the action taken against them during the last three years, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to prevent the cases of drunk driving and the rules formulated in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) As per available information, total number of road accidents due to drunk driving in the country during the calendar years 2016 to 2018 are as under:-
Sl. No. Year Road Accidents Due to Drunken Driving
1. 2016 1,48,94
2. 2017 1,40,71
3. 2018 1,20,18
(b) Ministry doesn’t maintain such specific data. This comes under the jurisdiction of the State Government.
(c) This Ministry has taken various measures to put a check on drunken driving in road accidents. The major initiatives are as under:-
(i) Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of drunken driving cases. The fine has been revised in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 passed by the Parliament recently.
(ii) Removal of Liquor Shops as per directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court vide circular of F. No. RW/NH-33044/309/2016/S&R dated 06-04-2017 and 01-06-2017.All the State Government/UTs have been requested to ensure that no license is issued to liquor vendors along National Highways. Further they have also been requested to review cases where licence has already been given for liquor vendors along National Highways and to take corrective action.
(iii) Ministry undertakes campaigns through print and electronic media to spread awareness on road safety.
(iv) The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways had provided financial assistant to States for procurement of breath analysers to check cases of drunken driving.
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