IT IS that time of the year when every city’s party animals are all set to ring in the New Year. Some will flock to the pubs, whereas the others will enjoy exclusive performances by actresses at five star hotels. But one thing is for sure - there will be drinks flowing at all these parties! If you choose to drink at the party, there is nothing wrong with it but if you choose to drink and drive as well, it could well spell doom for you.

 

On Dec 31, 2005 in the capital, 400 people were caught driving under the influence of alcohol; the next New Year’s night, this figure had risen to 700. With the opening of new pubs, discos and bars, the probability of people taking over the wheels in a drunken state has only increased. This New Year, if you want to drink, party hard, let your hair down and reach home safely, better have some plans in place. The Delhi traffic police will be maintaining a constant vigil on all the popular locations in the city.

 

This is the first year when the famous Radio Cabs in Delhi will become operational on New Year’s night. These cabs have been providing services throughout the year. Each of these cabs comes with a tamper-proof meter, a certified driver and a global positioning system that tracks the location of the vehicle. Payments can be made with Credit Cards as well. At Rs 50 per kilometre, these cabs may be a tad expensive but do provide a safe way to reach home. Bookings will have to be made in advance as there are just 350 of them. So go ahead and book a safe return home.

 

If you are going to party late in Mumbai and want to reach home in the wee hours of the morning, chances are that it won’t be an easy task, given your inebriated state. Hotels and beer bars will remain open till 5 AM. CCTV’s will be in place to trap drunken and rash drivers along Marine Drive, Chowpatty and Juhu beach. In December alone, about 1,700 drivers have been booked for driving under the influence of alcohol and this figure is set to cross the 2,000 mark on New Year’s night. Party goers have been advised to commute by trains and BEST buses, to avoid huge traffic snarls in the city. The frequency of buses and local trains will be raised to accommodate the late-night party crowd. Last year, a woman was molested at the Gateway of India following which security has been beefed up at prominent places.

 

According to the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, the permissible alcohol limit is 30mg/100ml of blood. In all the metros, the police will follow a policy of zero-tolerance. A first-time offender can be sentenced for up to six months whereas a second-time offender can be imprisoned for up to two years. The police will play the party pooper in the interest of the safety of the citizens.