With Hyderabadis breaking the bank for luxury cars and bikes and speeding across the streets, incidents of drunken driving have been on the rise and the traffic police have been busy implementing drunken driving checks.
The seemingly thankless job of the traffic cops have found unexpected support in the form of veteran actor and president of the Movie Artists’ Association (MAA) Rajendra Prasad, who showered praise on traffic police for conducting special drives to prevent deaths due to drunken driving.
Citing incidents of road accidents in which Tollywood actors, including Kota Srinivasa Rao have died, Rajendra Prasad said wearing helmets while driving is a must. “Speed thrills but also kills. Not just police, parents must also create awareness among their children about the perils of drunken driving and the threat it poses to their lives and that of others,” said the veteran actor at a counselling session held for those caught driving under the influence of alcohol, at the Traffic Training Institute on Monday. As many as 200 persons, including 50 students were counselled.
Prasad, while appreciating the traffic police in weeding out the perpetrators, advised youngsters to refrain from going behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
The veteran comedian later interacted with school children.
The police, on their part, have tightened the noose on the drunken driving menace in the city and have underlined the importance of taking precautions while driving.
“We would record the history of every traffic violation. If any vehicle driver/rider violates traffic rules more than 20 times, a violation sheet would be opened against them and stern action will be taken,” asserted AV Ranganath deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (Traffic).