MARGAO
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira has come out with a novel suggestion to reduce drunken driving “ by deploying traffic police outside wedding halls and clubs a la Mumbai.
He, however, hastened to add that he has no problem if people make merry at the wedding halls and clubs, but they have to ensure that the person behind the wheel should be off alcohol.
Calling for close monitoring by the police on driving by people under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Sequeira said drugs is a big menace which needs to be tackled head on.
Coming out in favour of people wearing seat belts, the Minister, however, wondered whether the rising accidents is a result of drivers or the bad condition of roads. “Invariably, I feel the driver is to be blamed. Unfortunately, lives are getting lost, youngsters are getting killed in road accidents”, he said.
“May be the police have to do a little more. They should station police outside wedding halls and clubs. You go to the Clubs and Gymkhanas in Mumbai, you will find traffic police little ahead checking drivers with alchometers”, he said.
He added: “I have got friends in Mumbai, when they go to a party, they would ensure that someone, who will drive the vehicle will be off alcohol, with the fear that the police would pull them up for drunken driving. I have no problem if the people make merry at the clubs and the vehicle is driven by someone who is off alcohol”.
Saying the police alone would not be able to check the increasing accident rate in the State, the Environment Minister said the society has to be united in dealing with the accidents. “We have to be united. We should also be responsible. When you don’t wear the helmets, your are risking the life of others. Unfortunately, most of the people wearing a helmet do it as a favour to the police. I have come across rider stopping on the way to wear their helmet when they come across traffic cops”, he said.
