The fact that 15 drivers spent Mother’s Day in custody after they were arrested for drink driving at the weekend is cause for concern.
Police confirmed 13 arrests were made in the Western Division, while the Eastern and Southern divisions recorded one arrest each.
We wonder what goes on in the minds of such drivers.
We keep reminding ourselves about the campaigns that are encouraged every year, focusing on road safety.
We touch on adherence to laws that govern how we use our roads.
We discuss defensive driving, and we basically talk about the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
We talk about the impact of alcohol on our ability to drive safely, and the dangers that state of the mind can have on other road users, especially if you were to combine that with speeding.
It is dangerous, and it isn’t something we should be encouraging.
Unfortunately though, there are drivers who disagree.
They will test the laws, and along the way threaten lives on the roads.
The question then is what do we do?
If drivers are prepared to go against the law, drink and then drive, we wonder whether they truly appreciate life, and the right of people to be safe on our roads.
Obviously there will be sceptics who will insist that there are drivers who can control themselves even when under the influence of alcohol.
But there are laws.
And they are meant to protect lives.
The fact that police have also expressed concern about speeding will also attract attention.
There were 180 traffic infringement notices issued.
Drivers can be upset about the way highway patrol officers hide behind hedges with their radar guns on 60km/hr zones, but again, there are laws in place.
Forget about police vehicles been hidden from view.
There are marked zones that demand drivers slow down.
So you can either do that, or test the long arm of the law.
It may be frustrating making long drives now to the West, but it is what it is.
Drink driving is certainly not the way to go, and speeding could get you in trouble.
We talk about road safety issues, and we slip into a state of complacency when there are no accidents reported.
Yet we go straight back to talking about road safety when accidents happen and people die!
So let’s stick to the rules.
Let’s plan our journeys, and plan to arrive on time, without a speeding ticket!
And while we are at it, get a designated driver if you are going to drink alcohol!
It’s common sense.
And besides, it’s there when you talk about road safety!
