Pune: A counselling session for more than 1,000 motorists booked for drunk driving in the last few months was held at the Pune police headquarters in Shivajinagar on Monday. Police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said, “We have decided to seize vehicles of those who are caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Last year, we registered 6,000 cases of drunk driving.” Accidents occur as a result of driving in an inebriated condition, the police chief said. “Vehicles will now be seized, and offenders will be publicly presented at intersections in the presence of their friends and family. Their photographs will also be published on the police website.”Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said punishing drunk drivers is not the objective, but failure to follow traffic rules leads to serious consequences.“Those present at the counselling session will work as messengers in society. India ranks high in road accidents, with 1,80,000 deaths annually, which means around 400 deaths every day. Around 7,00,000 people suffer permanent disabilities every year. People must think about it,” Patil said.The session was held as part of the road safety month.
