General Uppal/Nagole

Uppal SHO Lakshmi Madhaviโ€™s emotional counseling to drunk driver impresses netizens

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News in short:
Uppal SHO Lakshmi Madhavi has gained praise for her emotional approach to preventing drunk driving. During a routine checkpoint, she addressed a father caught driving drunk with his young son. She asked the man to promise his son that he wouldn't drink and drive again, prompting him to reconsider his actions. The emotional video of the intervention has gone viral, with many praising Madhavi for her compassion. However, some people feel emotional appeals might not be enough and fines should be imposed according to the law. Despite differing opinions, the video has generated praise for Madhavi's approach. The incident comes after a significant increase in drunk driving cases in Hyderabad during the New Year celebrations, with over 1,000 cases registered across the city. The East Zone saw the highest number of violations, and one concerning case saw a motorist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) well above the permissible limit.
Uppal SHO Lakshmi Madhaviโ€™s Emotional Counseling to Drunk Driver Impresses Netizens

Hyderabad: Typically, drunk driving offenses lead to license suspension, counseling, and fines. However, Uppal Station House Officer (SHO) Lakshmi Madhavi took an emotional approach to reform a local individual caught driving under the influence.

During a routine checkpoint in Uppal, she addressed a father who had been caught driving drunk alongside his young son. In a heartwarming moment, SHO Madhavi asked the man to promise his son, “Dad, I need you. Promise me you wonโ€™t drink and drive again.” This heartfelt plea moved the father, prompting him to reconsider his actions.

The emotional video of the intervention has gone viral, with many praising Lakshmi Madhavi for her emotional and compassionate approach. Viewers have lauded her, calling her “great” for finding a way to connect with the individual on a personal level, rather than simply enforcing the law through fines and penalties.

Sai Teja, a viewer, commented, โ€œThis is a good thing. It not only creates awareness but also motivates people to change. An emotional touch can make people realize the importance of family and life.โ€ Others agreed, saying that such gestures might help drivers reflect on the impact of their actions, particularly on their families.

However, not everyone was entirely supportive. Some pointed out that emotional appeals might not be enough. Ravi Kumar expressed, โ€œThis is not fair. According to the law, a fine should be imposed. Emotional gestures wonโ€™t work.โ€

Despite differing opinions, the video continued to generate praise for the Uppal SHO’s approach. โ€œNice gesture, maโ€™am,โ€ one user wrote, while another added, โ€œFriendly police means it should be like this.โ€

This incident follows a significant increase in drunk driving cases in Hyderabad during the New Year celebrations. The city police registered over 1,000 cases of drunk driving during the special drive, with a total of 1,184 cases recorded across various zones of the city. The East Zone saw the highest number of violations, with 236 cases.

One particularly concerning case occurred in Banjara Hills, where a motorist had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 550 micrograms per 100 milliliters, well above the permissible limit of 30 micrograms.

On December 31, 2024, the Hyderabad traffic police recorded 2,883 cases of drunk driving, a decrease from 3,001 the previous year. The Rachakonda Commissionerate noted 619 such cases during the New Year’s period.

Throughout 2024, Hyderabadโ€™s traffic police collected Rs. 535 crores in penalties from over 1.57 lakh violations of the Motor Vehicles Act. Among these, 55,234 drunk-driving cases accounted for Rs. 10.69 crore in fines.