Two drunk-driving cases raise concerns over private bus safety in Visakhapatnam

Passengers travelling by private buses, particularly on overnight journeys, have been advised to exercise caution and alert the police if they suspect a driver or other crew member is under the influence of alcohol.

The warning comes in the wake of two incidents in the past three months in which private bus drivers were found to be driving in an inebriated condition while carrying passengers on long-distance routes.

In the latest incident, Gajuwaka traffic police, during a random drunken-driving check about a week ago, intercepted a private sleeper bus bound for Chennai. The driver was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of more than 100 mg, against the permissible limit of 30 mg. The co-driver was also found to be under the influence of alcohol.

The bus was carrying a full complement of passengers when it was intercepted. The police booked cases against the travel operator and initiated legal action against the drivers. To avoid leaving the passengers stranded midway, the police arranged replacement drivers and allowed the bus to continue its journey after completing the necessary formalities.

This was not the first such incident involving a private travel bus. On June 27, another private bus carrying 26 passengers from Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada was intercepted during a check. Its driver was found to have a blood alcohol concentration of nearly 250 mg.

Several private travel operators run overnight and long-distance services from Visakhapatnam to destinations such as Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Tirupati and Chennai. With a large number of passengers depending on these services, drunken driving by bus drivers poses a serious risk to passengers and other road users.

The incidents have also raised questions about the number of such cases that may go undetected, particularly as many buses operate during late-night hours.

The traffic police do not currently conduct exclusive, fixed-time drunken-driving checks targeting private buses. Instead, multiple teams equipped with body-worn cameras conduct random checks at different locations within the limits of various police stations. The checks cover two-wheelers, cars, lorries and private buses.

Drivers found operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol are taken into custody and produced before the courts. Depending on the circumstances and court orders, offenders can face fines, imprisonment, community or social service and temporary suspension of their driving licences.

“Drunken-driving checks will definitely be intensified. If passengers notice anything suspicious or suspect that a driver is under the influence of alcohol, they can immediately contact the police on 100,” said Gajuwaka Traffic Inspector Sheikh Hussain.