As many as 386 motorists were prosecuted on Christmas Eve for violating the traffic norms in the city.

Among them 21 were booked for drink driving and more than 300 for riding two-wheelers without wearing helmets or riding with more than one pillion rider.

The majority of the cases involving two-wheelers were reported from the Shakespeare Sarani, Park Street and Loudon Street areas, while most of the cases of drink driving were reported from the Sovabazar crossing and the Golpark area.

Calcutta police have started prosecuting motorists for drink driving after a gap of nine months following a number of accidents involving men driving in an intoxicated state.

All 25 traffic guards in the city have been asked to remain alert against traffic violations in the festive season and prevent accidents.

More than 180 lives have been lost in road accidents this year till now. Last year, the death toll from road accidents stood at 267.

“There was minimal traffic on the roads for several months because of the lockdown. We want the trend of fewer accidents to continue and will try to restrict fatalities through strict enforcement of rules and prosecutions,” said a senior officer of the traffic department.

As many as 93 cases of riding two-wheelers without helmets, riding with more than one pillion rider and dangerous driving were reported from Theatre Road, Loudon Street, Park Street and Camac Street on Christmas Eve.

The police said vehicles —both four-wheelers and two-wheelers — were speeding down Park Street and Theatre Road. “Most of the motorcyclists who were stopped said: ‘Aajker din ta chhere deen’ (leave us at least today),” said an officer posted on Park Street.

Despite the handicap of not being able to use breathalysers to detect the presence of alcohol in blood, the police have started a drive against drink driving. Breathalysers are not being used as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19.

The drive was started days after a Volkswagen Polo, driven by a 23-year-old-youth allegedly under the influence of liquor, had fatally hit a cyclist and injured a pedestrian on Prince Anwar Shah Road earlier this month.