VISAKHAPATNAM: Lack of adequate staff strength and equipments has emerged as a major hindrance for the traffic police in bringing the drunk drivers in the city to book. The traffic cops say that there is a need of at least 15 teams to check the drunk driving, but only six teams are available for the purpose. Similarly, while there is a need of minimum eight personnel in each team, but at present there are just three. With the limitations, the police are not able to keep a strict vigil over the malpractice.
In a latest incident at Dondaparthy area, a person in inebriated condition, along with his family members, tried to attack a team of policemen conducting check against the drunk driving. Similar incidents are not new to the traffic teams. At present, only 18 traffic personnel in six teams keep a vigil on inebriated drivers across the city in the night.
During the random check, if police seize any vehicle, a constable leaves the area with the bike to take it to the police station nearby. A SI said that many cars just escape them with high speed and in ba bid to stop them policemen received injuries on several occasions. Exchanging heated arguments with the drunk drivers is a regular affair.
“Many enter altercation saying that they are relatives of VIPs. Some intentionally argue so that we hit them in drunk state. If they bring their friends or family members, its tough for us,” said a traffic constable from Old Town.
Moreover the traffic police also lack enough stoppers, LED lights, reflective tapes, video cameras. “We need stoppers to intercept cars, LED lights, but we do not have enough. It’s very difficult to stop cars. We try to give them signal, but the drivers pay no heed. Stoppers will make our job easy,” said a traffic SI, adding that they can’t record the arguments which can be produce as evidence before the court for the lack of video cameras. ADCP (Traffic) K Mahendra Patrudu said: “Compared to last year, the enforcement has been strengthened. Random checkings are being done to ensure that all vulnerable areas are covered.”