Hyderabad police suspend licences for rash driving
HYDERABAD: The Transport Department has intensified action against negligent driving, suspending driving licences for six months for offences such as drunken driving, rash driving and wrong-side driving.
Based on recommendations from the police, the department suspended more than 16,000 driving licences across the state last year. Of these, over 13,000 suspensions were reported within the limits of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda police commissionerates.
Six-month suspension for first offence
Police are booking cases against motorists found driving negligently and forwarding recommendations to the Transport Department for licence suspension. Notices are then issued to the vehicle owners seeking an explanation. If the reply is not satisfactory, transport authorities suspend the licence for six months for a first offence.
Action is also being taken against vehicle owners who allow minors to drive. Officials said drunken driving, rash driving, wrong-route driving and permitting minors to use vehicles account for most licence suspensions.
Rachakonda tops licence suspensions
Data shows that nearly 85% of such cases are being registered within the Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates, while the remaining districts account for about 15%.
Last year, Rachakonda police commissionerate recorded the highest number of suspensions at over 5,800, followed by Cyberabad with about 4,800 and Hyderabad with nearly 3,000. Warangal district reported over 1,000 suspensions, while other districts recorded fewer cases.
Repeat offence draws longer ban
Officials said that if no further complaints are received during the six-month suspension period, the licence is restored. However, if the offence is repeated, the suspension is extended by another six months. In cases involving multiple violations, licences can be suspended for up to one year, transport officials added.
