The number of individuals caught driving under the influence has skyrocketed in recent months in the state of Assam. According to official records, from January to May 2022, there were 95,163 reported cases of drunken driving. However, in the same period this year, the number has surged to a staggering 254,582 cases, representing a 167.52 per cent increase. Addressing a conference held at Janata Bhawan today to discuss strategies for reducing road traffic accidents, Assam's Director General of Police (DGP), GP Singh, proposed a series of measures aimed at tackling the rising trend of drunken driving. One of the key suggestions put forward was the cancellation of vehicle registrations for a period of six months for offenders found guilty of driving under the influence. If implemented, this provision will result in the suspension of registration numbers for all vehicles, including trucks and buses, involved in drunken driving incidents. Additionally, Singh recommended that in cases where a vehicle causes an accident resulting in death or serious injury, the driver's license should be suspended or cancelled for a period of six months. Responding to the proposals, the Chief Minister of Assam stated, "If we take decisive action by cancelling or suspending the registration numbers and driving licenses of even 100 vehicles involved in such cases, the message will be loud and clear. We must promote this extensively."Under the current system, drunken driving in Assam leads to an arrest, although the offence is typically bailable. Offenders were previously fined rather than detained. However, to deter potential offenders, the police will now enforce arrests for individuals caught driving under the influence, thus shifting away from the practice of issuing fines.
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