Hyderabad: Party-goers have found a new and sensible way to avoid going through drunk-driving checks. They are booking ‘timely drivers’ through applications like Driverzz, Hoop Drive You, Whistle Drive and Driver in Demand. The driver engaged reaches the spot and drives people safely to their destination.
The ‘timely drivers’ service is becoming a hit with tipplers with a conscience. And with demand increasing as the year comes to a close, companies providing the service have begun taking advance bookings from customers for New Year parties. According to Joint Traffic Commissioner, people are increasingly hiring drivers these days via apps to avoid driving drunk and go through police checks.
Says city resident K. Arun Kumar, “On Sunday, we thought of having a party without prior planning. I had to drive my car. But as soon as I reached to my friend’s place at Lakdikapul, I booked a driver from an app called Hoop Drive which charged me '494 for a ride from Lakdi-kapul to Narayanaguda. This facility comes in handy for party lovers who suddenly plan a do but can’t avoid taking their cars to the venue.”
Joint Commissioner, Hyderabad traffic police, V. Ravinder said, “We have heard of people now choosing to hire services of ‘timely drivers’ instead of driving themselves and getting caught and jailed. Instead driving drunk and risking their own life and others life, it is always better to hire drivers. This wise step by citizens will surely help in reducing fatal road accidents.”
DCP Traffic, A.V. Ranganath, said, “It’s fine if people are hiring professional drivers right up to their homes, but if it is only to hoodwink police then we need to think differently and also criminally prosecute the drunk drivers and the service agencies.”
Kanaparti Hitachandra, CEO of Driverzz mobile app, said, “We usually have lot of demand at nights on weekends because our customers want to avoid driving drunk. We anticipate a spike in the demand on New Year’s eve also, and are arranging for more drivers. But requests from customers for New Year’s eve will have to be made in advance.”
