Visakhapatnam: Drunken driving tests cops

Visakhapatnam: Vexed with the drunken and the rash driving in Vizag, especially on the weekends, residents of the city want the police department to step in. Most say that the nuisance peaks during the weekends, especially on the beach road.

Police commissioner R.K. Meena had directed the law and order cops to increase checks for drunken driving in the city. Following the directions, the city cops fanned out and have been carrying out drunken driving checks across the city.

However, it appears that the beach road has somehow escaped their attention. How else would one explain youngsters consuming alcohol on the beach road and driving their bikes and cars at dangerously high speeds?

An NGO recently collected tonnes of empty liquor bottles from either side of the Beach Road, an indication of the menace.

A couple of fatal accidents had taken place last month. One saw the death of a youth after celebrating his birthday on Beach Road.

Mr Meena, who took charge a month ago, is now focusing on the drunken and rash driving in the city. He held a meeting with his officers and directed the law and order cops to increase drunken driving checks. Earlier, the traffic police alone use to check for drunken driving.

East ACP J. Kulasekhar said, “We have decided to take up the drunken driving checks as per his directions. We will ensure that no one will be able to drive a vehicle drunk. Regular checks will help us curb drunken driving cases.”