16 drunk driving cases daily, city roads a deadly gamble

Nagpur: Eight families in Nagpur fell silent last year because someone chose to drive after drinking on a routine night on the city's roads. Sixteen motorists are caught every day, yet countless others manage to escape, underscoring that drunk driving is no longer an occasional violation but a persistent and growing threat, making the city's nights increasingly dangerous for gullible commuters.In 2025 alone, 8 people died in 34 accidents involving drunk drivers. Behind every number is a family that suffered an irreparable loss and a future abruptly erased. Data from the city traffic police reveals that 5,968 motorists were caught driving under the influence of liquor in 2025. The figure marks a steep rise from 1,357 cases in 2024 and 1,029 in 2023. Yet officials admit that these numbers represent only those who were caught. Many more may have slipped through the cracks.
In 2024, 7 people died and 65 injured in 40 drunk driving accidents. While the number of accidents dipped slightly to 34 in 2025, fatalities rose to 8. For the affected families, the data is irrelevant.DCP (traffic) Lohit Matani said enforcement intensified since the launch of "Operation U-Turn" in June last year. "Every night we conduct nakabandi at nearly 90 locations across the city. These points are frequently changed, and sometimes surprise check posts are set up outside bars and pubs. The operation continues with full force," Matani said.Barricades shift. Checkpoints appear without warning. Yet some motorists continue to gamble with lives — including their own. Sources said drivers often attempt to bypass known nakabandi routes by taking inner lanes. There were also instances of real-time sharing of checkpoint locations to help others evade detection.Late-night scenes outside pubs often tell a worrying story. Young riders rev engines, helmets dangling from handlebars, confidence amplified by alcohol. Road safety experts warn that alcohol impairs judgement, slows reaction time, and distorts depth perception — a lethal combination on open roads at night.Traffic officials stress that drunk driving is entirely preventable. Booking a cab or assigning a sober driver are simple decisions that can save lives.But for 8 families in Nagpur this year, that choice came too late. Each of those 8 deaths was not an accident of fate, but the outcome of a conscious decision to drive after drinking. As enforcement intensifies and numbers rise, the message from the city's roads is stark: 16 caught every day is not reassurance — it is a reminder of how many more could still be out there.And for innocent commuters heading home at night, every such driver turns the journey into a gamble they never signed up for.