Now breath analysers in use to check drunken driving
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19 2019:
Stating that intensive drive has been launched in the State from September 1 even though Road Safety , Awareness Programme on Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, is yet to be implemented in Mahipur, DSP Traffic, K Bijoykumar has informed that since yesterday, the authorities have started using breath analysers to detect drunk drivers.
The fine for those found driving under influence will be Rs 1000 for the public and Rs 2000 for law enforcers.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, DSP Bijoykumar said that even though the Act came into force all over the country on September 1, it is yet to be implemented in Manipur.
However, in accordance with the development, intensive drive has been launched by the authorities.
Beginning from September 1, traffic police and the State police have taken up 741 cases for driving without any helmet and collected a fine of Rs 74,100.3129 cases concerning other road safety violations were also taken up and a total of Rs 3,65,200 was collected as fine, he added.
Bijoykumar then explained that if all the drivers follow the necessary traffic rules, incidents of road accident or mishap will reduce substantially.
He continued that ever since the Act came into force all across the State, most of the drivers have started wearing helmets.
This is a really positive step.
It is also important for the pillion rider on a two wheeler to wear helmet as well, he said, expressing desire for the dealers and sellers of two wheeler vehicles to provide good quality helmet with every vehicle purchased.
On the other hand, the DSP said that the traffic police also need to wear helmets while on duty.
Police personnel riding two wheelers must also wear helmets for protection in case 'of any mishap, he added, expressing desire for the police personnel to obey traffic rules as well.
The Traffic DSP then explained that police started using breath analysers to detect drunk driving since yesterday in the State.
Bijoykumar continued that one of the major problems caused by people driving four wheeler vehicles is throwing plastic bottles from inside the vehicle.
These bottles have the potential to cause harm to other drivers on the road.
The situation is the same forpeople throwing out plastic packets and bags from inside cars on the road, he said, adding that these also result in harm to the environment as well.
On the other hand, speaking to The Sangai Express, the proprietor of SN Enterprise (a helmet store) at MG Avenue, said that in the past, vehicle dealers did not provide helmets to the customer during a vehicle purchase.
Due to the new development, the shops sell around 30-40 helmets a day, he said.