While the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act has hiked fines for drunk driving from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000, there have barely been any police checks on the street since the Covid-19 outbreak began. Meanwhile, wrong-side driving has reached enormous proportions, witnessed even on express highways in Mumbai.
The Pathans reside in Goregaon East and planned to meet relatives in Kurla on Sunday. Irfan was riding the scooter while his wife, Sania, sat pillion carrying Arfan. They had not ventured very far from home when an SUV hurtled towards them from the wrong direction near Lakshdham School. “The motorist couldn’t control the vehicle. He first hit the Pathans’ scooter and continued to plough further, hitting an autorickshaw next. The auto turned turtle from the impact,” said a police officer. Sania and Arfan were thrown off the scooter and suffered injuries. A crowd of bystanders gathered and caught hold of the motorist. “I was furious with the motorist but Arfan had hurt his head and I knew we had little time,” said Irfaan. He dialled a cousin and took his help to admit Arfan to a local private hospital. The infant was critical though, and had to be moved to Nanavati Hospital at Vile Parle shortly. Treatment was started but Arfan could not make it through the night.
The Traffic Police’s sustained campaign against drunk driving over the past decade had brought down fatalities and non-fatal injuries considerably. But the pandemic applied brakes on the campaign. The drive needs to be resumed with no further delay. Strict enforcement and a re-look at street design could help tackle instances of wrong-side driving.
Dindoshi police booked the motorist, Sunil Yadav, under provisions of the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act. Yadav (32) is a driver with a private company. He had planned to meet a friend and downed some drinks at home before setting out in his company’s car.
A medical test detected alcohol in his blood, police said. As the offence is bailable, the court released him on Monday.
Irfan said his wife was unconsolable and they are seeking exemplary punishment for the motorist. “I have identified a few eyewitnesses and want their statements to be recorded by the police so that the gravity of the offence can be established,” he said.
Activist A V Shenoy with the Mumbai Mobility Forum said traffic offences need to be categorised into ‘most severe’, ‘severe’ and ‘less severe’ depending on the risk they pose to the life and safety of other road users. “For the ‘most severe’ offences category, punishment must be swift and stringent, otherwise there will be no deterrent effect,” he said.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-drunk-driving-on-wrong-side-hits-2-wheeler-infant-killed/articleshow/88307755.cms
