DRINK-DRIVING is a serious problem in Fiji and it continues to be an area of concern despite repeated pleas from the Fiji Police Force.
On today’s Page 4, director traffic Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Mishra, while talking about the five men who are now in custody and are expected to appear in court tomorrow for drink-driving charges, has drawn our attention to the fact that police continue to record cases of drink driving.
Though they do not have the exact figures, police have, for the first six months of this year, arrested about 300 drivers for drink-driving offences.
Despite numerous pleas from the authorities concerned for drivers to practise safe driving habits, some drivers continue to disregard road rules. SSP Mishra has called for a change in the driver’s attitude.
“Drivers should not be selfish and should think of the serious consequences driving under the influence of alcohol poses to themselves, their loved ones and other innocent road users,” SSP Mishra said.
While the traffic operation team continues to monitor our roads this weekend, focusing on radar operation, coverage of black spot areas, breathalyser operations, snap checks, we need to take heed of the fact that drunk driving jeopardises public safety and can be a major cause of accidents and casualties on our highways and busy roads.
Drink-driving is a threat to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or race. As its name indicates, drink-driving is the act of driving a vehicle after drinking enough alcohol to impair the driver’s motor skills and mental capacity.
The amount of alcohol in the body is measured by the amount of the alcohol in the blood which is called blood alcohol concentration, or BAC. If you have a drink, there is no way to guess what your BAC is — you could be over the limit.
Here in Fiji, for drivers with full licence and those who drive Group 2 vehicles there is a blood alcohol limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 ml of breath. In terms of all other drivers no amount alcohol in the system is acceptable — zero limit.
If you take a drink you could be over the limit, don’t try to fool yourself, everyone has a different metabolism.
It’s important to note that even one drink can reduce one’s ability to react to things that happen suddenly while driving. Drink-driving causes impairment to one’s motor skills and mental capacity, ability to pay attention to what’s happening on the road, co-ordination and judgment. Failure to command of any of the above skills can result in an accident and/or the injury of other road users.
Drunk drivers are also a threat to themselves and any passengers who may be in the vehicle with them.
While driving drunk is an obvious danger to human life, it is can also be very costly.
Therefore, if you are planning to drive, do not drink, if you drink, please do not drive. It boils down to attitude, unless drivers are willing to abide by the law, families will continue to suffer the loss of their loved ones because of accidents which can be avoided.
Remember, your life and the lives of others can change forever if you drive after drinking alcohol. So let’s take a moment and seriously think about the consequences of ignoring road rules can cause not only you and your loved ones, but to other innocent parties as well.
Once we adopt a change of mind-set only then will we be able to stop road accidents.
