Bengaluru: A news piece that read 461 drunken driving cases on New Year in India, disturbed me. (Man accused of 11th drunken driving charge had valid licence!) Numbers can do that to you – suddenly, you are more alarmed than ever before. The biggest, the noisiest drunken driving case that got us clued in was the Salman Khan case. He was quoted saying ‘that he paid the price for being a celebrity, punishment for him was harsher than in normal cases.’ And a section of the social media went on frenzy demanding the harshest punishment for him – that would send out the right message.

India has one of the highest accident rates, but one of the lowest conviction rates. Most criminal cases that are lodged for causing death by negligence, only sees justice after years of waiting. And because of such delayed justice system, most often, witnesses disappear or turn hostile. Also, if you have the monetary might, you can buy witnesses.
(Something that many suspect happened in Salman’s acquittal.)

So, we list down some measures that might help in discouraging such an act.

• “Zero tolerance” laws make it illegal to drive with any amount of alcohol in your body. These laws are fiercely enforced along with the law that states minimum drinking age of 21. We are very flexible with the law, which is a huge issue in our country. The rich can manipulate, buy the law or the torch bearers of it.

• Breath tests at check points, where the police check for any sign of alcohol in your system. The barricades at every important juncture, which slows down the car, and gets drivers into close proximity of the police. Though this is done in most cities now, but it is a half-hearted approach.

• Mass media campaigns have help raise tremendous awareness on this issue. There are Bollywood brand ambassadors promoting the cause.

• Administrative license revocation or suspension laws can act as deterrence.