Date:24/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/24/stories/2007122457320400.htm

New Delhi

Campaign against drunken driving

Staff Reporter

To bring in a safe New Year

“Almost 70 per cent vehicles are driven by drunk individuals”
Several pubs in the Capital have pledged their support

NEW DELHI: To bring in a safe New Year, several pubs in the Capital have pledged their support to the “Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CAAD) National Designated Driver Campaign” to prevent drunken-driving related accidents.

The campaign propagates the following initiatives to ensure safety: hiring a cab and utilising a car-pool facility when going out, taking turns to be the “designated driver” among a group of friends, letting the restaurant manager call a taxi if one is already inebriated and resolving not to drink and drive.

According to CADD spokesperson Prince Singhal: “Almost 70 per cent vehicles are driven by drunk individuals on New Year’s eve, making driving highly unsafe even for sober drivers. This is a very dangerous trend as India is already scourged with the second highest number of road deaths due to drunken driving. Over 25 of the best bars and pubs in Delhi have joined CADD’s initiative to help their customers and guests make the smart choice of having a “designated driver” when going to party. The pubs that are a part of this campaign will also provide a taxi service to their intoxicated guests. This has been done keeping in mind the Government’s recent extension of bar timings.”

The awareness of this campaign has been spread through several drives in colleges, informative banners, posters and pamphlets. It has also been launched in other cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad.