City Sees Over 20% Drop in Road Accident Deaths; New Campaign Aims for Safer Streets

Nagpur: In a determined move to make city roads safer and reduce fatalities caused by reckless driving, Nagpur City Police has launched a comprehensive traffic enforcement campaign titled ‘Operation U-Turn’. The initiative focuses primarily on tackling drunk driving, which continues to be a leading cause of fatal and serious road mishaps in the city.

Key Highlights of ‘Operation U-Turn’:

Zero Tolerance for Drunk Driving:

Strict enforcement will be carried out against individuals caught under the influence, with offenders booked under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Citywide Checkpoints at 33 Locations will be strategically placed across the city. Breath analyser tests will be conducted on suspected drivers, especially during high-risk hours.

Special Late-Night Drives:

From 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM, five high-risk zones will see intensified police presence to catch and deter late-night drunk drivers.

Immediate Vehicle Seizure

Vehicles of drunk drivers will be seized and moved to respective Zonal Traffic Offices.

Action Against Repeat Offenders

A centralised offender database will help track habitual violators. Repeat offenders may face charges under Section 110 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Awareness in Bars and Clubs

Anti-drunk-driving messages and audio announcements will be placed in pubs and permit rooms to warn patrons about legal consequences.

License Suspension

Driving licenses of offenders will be suspended as per law, with necessary documentation forwarded to the RTO.

Smart Booth Messaging

Smart Traffic Booths across Nagpur will continuously broadcast awareness messages about the risks of drunk driving.

Widespread Awareness Campaign

Targeted outreach programs in colleges, universities, corporate offices, and other public spaces will aim to educate citizens about safe driving habits.

Measurable Progress in 2025:

The campaign comes on the heels of a positive trend in Nagpur’s road safety statistics:

• Fatal Accidents (Jan–Jun 2024): 178
• Fatal Accidents (Jan–Jun 2025): 142
• Reduction: 20.22%
• Deaths from Fatal Accidents (Jan–Jun 2024): 171
• Deaths from Fatal Accidents (Jan–Jun 2025): 126
• Reduction: 21.13%

Nagpur Police Commissionerate reiterated its commitment to saving lives and ensuring safer roads. “Operation U-Turn is more than enforcement—it is a citywide movement to change attitudes toward drunk driving,” stated a senior traffic official.

With strong enforcement, public participation, and widespread awareness, authorities hope to significantly reduce road fatalities in the months ahead.