Chandigarh, April 14: Despite a sharp increase in drunk driving violations in Chandigarh, only 10.8% of offenders have been recommended for driving licence suspension between 2023 and March 13, 2025 — a figure traffic officials say undermines the intended deterrent of the law.
According to data shared by Chandigarh Traffic Police, a total of 7,941 challans were issued during the period, with 4,898 disposed of. Yet, only 534 violators were recommended for licence suspension — a process dependent on court approval.
In 2023, 3,160 challans were issued and 323 licences recommended for suspension, marking a 12.8% rate. In 2024, while challans rose to 3,561, only 207 cases were flagged for suspension, dropping the rate to 9.1%. So far in 2025, only four licences have been recommended for suspension out of 120 challans disposed, marking a shocking 3.3% enforcement rate.
“We can only recommend DL suspension; the court takes the final call. But these low numbers weaken the deterrence,” said a senior traffic police official.
Road safety expert Harpreet Singh said licence suspensions should be automatic upon conviction. “Drunken driving is a life-threatening offence. Without stringent and immediate penalties, the risk remains high for all road users,” he noted.
SSP (Traffic) Sumer Pratap Singh said enforcement has intensified with more checkpoints to catch offenders, which has led to more challans being issued.
The data also shows over 3,000 cases remain pending — 640 from 2023, 1,303 from 2024, and 1,100 already in early 2025.
The consequences of delayed or weak enforcement were evident on March 14, when a drunk driver crashed his Volkswagen Polo at over 150 kmph, killing two police personnel and a bystander past midnight.
In another case last year, a youth driving a Mahindra Thar after a night of drinking rammed into a divider near Manimajra, killing his friend. The vehicle was moving at 120 kmph.
With enforcement rising but conviction and licence suspension rates lagging, officials and experts alike warn that unless courts act faster and stricter, the streets will remain unsafe.
