KARACHI: City’s Traffic Police is set to buy breathalysers to check alcoholism in suspicious drivers amid a rising number of drunk driving accidents, which have caused many fatalities in the city.
A tender had already been floated for the breathalyser kits and the purchase will be finalised after approval from the procurement department, according to DSP Saeed Arain, an administrative officer at the DIG Traffic Police Office.
The police officer informed that in the first phase, at least 90 breathalysers would be acquired and provided to personnel deployed in different parts of Karachi. Currently, policemen use conventional methods to determine whether the driver is under the influence of alcohol or not.
The suspected drivers are taken to government hospitals where the medico-legal team conducts tests. In this regard, DSP Arain said this old-fashioned way left room for doubt as alcohol does not show in the tests after some time.
“However, with the help of new technology, the police would be able to test drivers on the spot and issue challan or arrest them,” DSP Saeed Arain concluded.
