The Dangers Of Drink Driving In India And Legal Penalties By Vishal Pathak, Content Writer

The Dangers Of Drink Driving In India And Legal Penalties

Vishal Pathak, Content Writer | Monday, 24 June 2024, 07:17 IST

The Dangers Of Drink Driving In India And Legal Penalties Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a significant issue that impacts road safety in India. Despite strict laws and efforts to educate people on how alcohol affects driving, accidents still happen that take lives and cause serious injuries.

Driving after drinking alcohol is considered a risky thing to do because it makes it harder to think clearly. When people drink, they find it difficult to make proper decisions, react quickly, and understand things are around them; these skills are very important for driving without acci- dents.

Drivers who are drunk usually show dangerous actions like driving very fast, moving unpredictably across the road, and not paying attention to traffic lights, which is a risk for them and other people on the road.

Legal consequences

Besides the harm caused to oneself, driving after drinking alcohol results in strong legal penalties in India. The revised Motor Vehicles Act imposes fines and punishments for people found operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. People could also have their driving licenses taken away or might have to go to jail as well.

Alternatives to drunk driving in India

Services like Uber and Ola are known as ride-hailing apps. They give people a comfortable and economical choice instead of driving when they have consumed alcohol. Such services help reduce the dangers of drunk driving while allowing people to enjoy their night out.

Public transportation like buses and trains offer a secure way to go back home after the consumption of alcohol. By thinking about it beforehand and organizing a ride prior to drinking, you can avoid making sudden choices of driving when drunk.

Prevention and awareness

Stopping people from driving after drinking can be done in different ways, like making the laws stricter and teaching people about the dangers. If we monitor drivers more often by doing things like breath tests or checking if they are sober when they drive through certain points on the road, it might make them think twice before they decide to drive after having alcohol. Additionally, campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of driving after drinking and encourage people to drink alcohol in a responsible way could change the way society thinks and acts.

Car insurance considerations

The cost of car insurance can increase significantly for those with drunk driving offenses or accidents in their history. Driver under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, won’t be covered by the insurer in case of accident of the vehicle.

Additionally, there might also be issues with getting insurance to cover the costs of damages or injuries caused by a person involved in an accident related to alcohol. This could make the financial burden even more difficult for those who are at fault in these types of incidents. Responsible driving habits, such as not consuming alcohol when operating a vehicle, can assist people in obtaining inexpensive and thorough insurance protection.

BAC test

BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) test India denotes the quantification of alcohol present within an individual's bloodstream.

In India, motorists are legally prohibited from surpassing 30 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, equivalent to 0.03%.
Law enforcement personnel employ breathalyzers or conduct blood examinations to ascertain BAC levels during traffic interceptions or at designated checkpoints.

A BAC level that goes beyond the set limit for driving can greatly affect a person's ability to drive well. This results in slower reaction times and poor judgment.

Impacts of drunk driving on self and others in India

Drink driving affects not only the driver and those hurt directly but also families, communities, and all of society suffer because of these accidents.

Every accident resulting from drinking and driving creates a path of emotional and financial destruction.
Those who survive often struggle with bodily harm, psychological distress, and grief as families grieve the premature passing of their relatives.
Additionally, the weight of medical expenses and court actions puts more pressure on resources.

The monetary effects of alcohol-related accidents are significant. The medical costs, harm to property, law expenses, and income loss can impact people for an extended period.

Accidents caused by alcohol frequently bring about serious injuries or deaths, breaking up families and leaving communities in sorrow. Innocent lives are taken away or permanently changed due to the thoughtless choices made by a drunk driver.

NGOs working on road safety in India

The NGOs working on road safety in India are:

TRAX

A non-governmental organization focused on road safety is located in Delhi. This NGO has been tackling the road safety problems of India since 2007. They raise their voices for matters such as standardized helmets, better visibility, and improved infrastructure.

ArriveSAFE

A registered non-profit NGO, it is focused on spreading awareness about road safety and sustainable transportation in India. The main goal of this organization entails making roads safer while also providing education to the citizens.

SaveLIFE Foundation

A non-governmental organization that focuses on road safety efforts like spreading awareness and helping victims.

Forum for Prevention of Road Accidents

An Indian NGO focused on preventing road accidents through various programs and collaborations.

SAFE KIDS FOUNDATION

A non-governmental organization focusing on child road safety, which involves teaching traffic rules and safe habits to kids in schools.

The drunk driving helpline numbers India are as follows:

For Chennai, motorists may telephone 9710900100 or write to adctraffic@gmail.com. The general traffic helpline for all of India is 1077. You can use this number to report different traffic matters like drunk driving. When you observe someone driving while intoxicated or in a dangerous manner, it's crucial to inform the Traffic Police right away.

In conclusion

The dangers of drunk driving in India are very serious and have serious consequences for people, families, and communities. Knowing the laws about drunk driving and finding other ways to travel can help keep roads safe from accidents related to alcohol. People should focus on driving responsibly and help make our roads safer for everyone.