BENGALURU: The Transport Department on Monday announced its initiative to spread awareness against drunk driving across all its 11 RTOs in the city. The initiative, to be launched in partnership with Chola MS General Insurance, will promote the cause of road users’ safety through safe drinking habits.
As part of the drive, Chola MS volunteers will spread awareness against drunk driving by using state-of-the art ‘drunk buster goggles and reaction time tester games’. Participants will be made to wear the goggles and walk the straight line. The goggle simulates the drunk state and the participants may not be able to walk straight. These and other entertaining games will be used to drive home the point about drunk driving.
Mr Narendra Holkar, Joint Commissioner – Transport Department, said, “We have launched this initiative in all RTO offices across the city to create awareness among the people about the menace of drunk driving. Drunk state drastically impacts psychomotor performance and poor muscle coordination, leading to misjudgement and accidents. Many of these accidents have been fatal. Through these games and gadgets, we want Bengalureans to experience the menace of drunk driving and to refrain from this habit.”
According to a World Health Organisation study, between 33 per cent and 69 per cent of fatally injured drivers and between 8 per cent and 29 per cent of non-fatally injured drivers had consumed alcohol before the crash. As per the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2014, 2,591 deaths and 7,398 injuries in road accidents were attributed drunk drivers. Based on its success, the initiative will be rolled out in major public junctions and a few malls across the city.
