adminChristopher Charamba Correspondent
In the novel, The Sea of Forgotten Memories, Federico Chini, writes; “The loss of a loved one is like the loss of a part of oneself; an arm or a leg. At first, the pain is so physical that it is hard to ignore. The trauma is so intense that the mind finds it hard to cope with the loss.”
The pain is debilitating, a tempest of melancholic emotions competing for dominion. When young life is lost, the pain is magnified. To see a parent bury their child amplifies it further.
Driving under the influence of alcohol has caused so much pain to many families the world over due to the loss of life.
Not enough is being done or said about the subject. Drinking and driving has become a terrible culture in our society endangering lives of those behind the wheel, passengers and anyone else on the road. Usually after an accident, people are quick to comment or pass judgment, more often than not chastising the driver for being drunk.
But hindsight is 20/20 and it is easy to cast blame on an individual. But that is not constructive or effective in addressing the growing issue of drinking and driving.
People know that driving under the influence is not only wrong but illegal. However, a considerable number of people, young and old, choose to ignore this.
Some claim that they drive better once they have had a drink while others say they need “one for the road” to stay awake.
For young people, an air of invincibility can explain the reckless behaviour. The knowledge that it could happen but the belief that it would not happen to them makes the risk seem worth it.
Regardless of what one might choose to think or believe, driving under the influence is not a safe practice.
It is therefore imperative that a national conversation takes place to curb drinking and driving to save lives. According to Track-It Vehicle Satellite Tracking, on average over 35 percent of all fatal accidents involve a drunk driver.
This means that as of June 5 where 20 139 accidents were recorded, over 7 000 of them were caused by drivers under the influence.
The nation should take responsibility to help stop this problem. Politicians, policy makers, police, club owners, drivers, passengers and ordinary citizens should all work together to protect life.
There are different strategies that can be implemented to prevent drunk driving. However it will take the collective will of all people to ensure that these are effective.
First, it would be prudent to look at the law to assess whether it is adequate to deal with the problem. In Zimbabwe it is illegal to drive with a blood/alcohol concentration limit of over 0.08 percent.
In addition, the law could be amended to make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to drive with any amount of alcohol in their system so as to discourage and protect young life. Parents should also take responsibility to ensure that their children are using the roads safely. Young people tend to be very impressionable and can easily develop bad habits such as drinking and driving through peer pressure and the desire to fit in.
Drivers must also be encouraged to find transport alternatives when considering a day or night out of drinking. Taxis are such an alternative although there is a cost factor involved. The cost can however equal the pain of losing a loved one. Travelling with people from the same neighbourhood could be one way of mitigating the costs.
Alternatively, you can still have a designated driver among one’s group who stays sober for the night and ensures everyone gets home safely.
It might be wise to have more than one designated driver to help keep the other sober company for the duration of the outing. The police should act without impunity and arrest people caught violating the drinking and driving laws.
Coming down hard on speeding as well as cracking down on public drinking particularly in car parks outside bars will go a long way to ensure road safety.
Government and city councils need to work closely to guarantee that roads are repaired and well illuminated. The lack of street lights and potholed roads pose a risk to all drivers, worse when they are under the influence.
The media and schools should also contribute to safeguarding the roads by campaigning against drinking and driving so as to stigmatise and create an aversion to the practice.
From a young age children should be repeatedly taught about the risk and dangers involved in drinking and driving.
Zimpact is a non-profit trust that works to create an aversion to drunk driving. Through educational programmes in schools and awareness campaigns, they are playing a part in reducing the risk.
The trust also provides access to a shuttle service which is a useful alternative to driving under the influence.
There is a need for more people to join this cause in order for there to be a significant decrease in drunken driving incidents.
A zero tolerance to drinking and driving is a sure way to decrease the risk of road accidents and guarantee the safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
One must remain cognisant of the fact that when they are behind the wheel they are not only responsible for their own life but that of all road users.
Online Reporter