HYDERABAD: The government launched the ‘Drink Safe & Smart Ride’ programme to achieve ZERO DUI (Driving Under the Influence) in Hyderabad and Cyberabad on the New Year’s Eve. The initiative introduce anti DUI policy combined with procedures and products to offer services, intelligent applications and integrated tools and infrastructure to enable Zero DUI. Telangana is the first Indian state to launch ‘Mission Smart Ride’ for providing enhanced traffic safety on the streets and highways in Hyderabad & Cyberabad as a policy.
The mission will include services like providing Smartride4zeroDUI Cab services within 25 km range along with introducing designated driver services at major liquor establishments, enabling integration of insurance applications with major cab service providers and establishing automat. It will also encompass structured awareness programmes for parents and students in community schools and colleges, identifying the DUI patterns and address the townships or highways with most DUI incidents to address the concern and creating larger avenues for mobilising people and implementing ZERO DUI in the state.
Telangana State with a population of about 35 million of which 73% are adults, 52% of whom consume alcohol. In the present scenario DUI arrests, accidents, injuries and property damages, unfortunate fatalities is estimated to affect considerable population size either directly or indirectly affecting them mentally, physically or even financially. The program aims to develop a safe environment and promote a responsible behavior among people.
Speaking on the occasion Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, IT Secretary, Government of Telangana said, “This initiative aims to eliminate DUI incidents in Cyberabad and Hyderabad by promoting responsible drinking habits and improve the road safety in the city. his first of its kind initiative in the country, that will improve highway or street traffic safety which can save more citizens lives. In addition to job creation under the project, the model can serve as a blueprint for other states to adopt”.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Akun Sabharwal, IPS, Director, Drugs Control Administration, Government of Telangana said “It is one of the important duties of the Excise department to co-ordinate with the Police and Civil society to reduce the incidence of accidents/fatalities related to drunken driving cases. This includes promoting responsible drinking habits and minimising the number of people driving back home after drinking.”
The service will be available for all customers at various establishments within Telangana State, where liquor is served. The “Designated Driver” service will be provided either by restaurants or third party for the customers as value add service to drive the customers in their own cars and drivers get a free ride back home or restaurant. The mission smart ride also integrates with an intelligent “ONE-TOUCH” call routing application which provides call forwarding service to the nearest cab service when using the mobile application. Uber Hyderabad is also part of this initiative.