Bengaluru traffic police's drunk driving crackdown is changing how people get home, boosting road safety

The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have brought back daily drunk driving (DD) checks across the city throughout the week to curb road accidents.

The move follows a directive from Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Karthik Reddy.

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Bengaluru traffic police's drunk driving crackdown

In late August, Reddy instructed Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) across all four traffic zones to implement routine checks within their respective areas, according to police sources, as reported by The Hindu.

According to the report, at least three checkpoints have been set up in each traffic division, while the East Division, including high-footfall areas like Brigade Road and Church Street, has deployed over 10 checkpoints for tackling the increased volume of nightlife activity.

Importantly, both inspectors and sub-inspectors are now authorised to conduct breathalyser tests.

In the last week of August, Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) of all four traffic divisions to conduct daily checks within their jurisdictions, a senior police source told The Hindu.

A senior officer said, “There have been several instances where drunk drivers were involved in nighttime crimes as well as accidents. So, as a pilot initiative, we started this routine.”

Also, platforms like DriveU, which provides on-demand drivers for car owners, are seeing more people opting for their Don’t Drink & Drive (DDND) ride option.

Between January and August 2025, Bengalureans booked over 1,04,000 DDND rides, a 74% jump compared to last year’s 59,831 rides.

Currently, one in four rides on the platform is a DDND trip, with users mostly between 25 and 55 years old.

“Bengaluru’s traffic police deserve credit for their strict enforcement against drunk driving. We see a clear behavioural shift. Bengalureans are increasingly opting for safer rides home after a night out,” said Rahm Shastry, Co-Founder & CEO, DriveU.

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