Senior traffic police officers in Patna claim that they do not need to use the two breath analysers often as instances of drunken driving are infrequent. Citizens and statistics, however, state otherwise.

Residents of the state capital are facing ugly encounters with drunken motorists on a daily basis.

Sources said on Monday evening, a biker and his pillion rider, under the influence of liquor, came dangerously close to hitting a middle-aged man who was walking home on Boring Road. Missing the pedestrian by a whisker, the biker and his companion pulled up in front of a liquor shop to purchase a bottle of whisky.

“They gulped down the alcohol within 15 minutes and sped towards Rajapul, shouting at any traffic that strayed on to their path,” said the man.

Encounters like this are common on the city roads. Most of them end in unfortunate results. According to data available with the police, 12 people have died in Patna from January to April this year in road accidents. Cops claim most of these mishaps are a result of drunken driving.

Senior police officers, however, feel that using the two breath analysers in their artillery is not necessity.

Superintendent of police (traffic) Chandrika Prasad told The Telegraph: “We have two breath analysers — one with DSP (traffic) 1 and the other with DSP (traffic) 2. They are used regularly. But these equipment are not needed much in Patna. Whenever we suspect someone of drunken driving, we check them.”

But officers in Prasad’s department report otherwise. A deputy superintendent of police-rank officer said: “February and March were marriage seasons. Many drivers drank during the celebrations and hit the road. Such situations often cause accidents.”

Another officer on condition of anonymity said: “The excise department has not renewed the licences of on-shops this fiscal (2012-13). But when they were open till March, their patrons would drink on the premises and then drive home under the influence of liquor. This can be very dangerous.”

The traffic SP assured that breath analysers would be used more frequently in Patna. “The police will identify areas where such incidents are common. People will be checked.,” Prasad said.

Any person caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be punished for the first offence with imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to Rs 2,000 or both. For a subsequent offence committed within three years, the imprisonment can extend up to two years or fine up to Rs 3,000 or both.