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Two-beer limit for drivers or face Court

Jul 26, 2008 News

…PR campaign in train

The National Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a two-beer limit or face the courts for those driving under the influence of alcohol.
The use of a breathalyzer or blood test will determine the alcohol levels in a person suspected to be under the influence of alcohol with both sides of the house agreeing that the prescribed limit be equivalent to two beers.
This comes under the Evidence and Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2008 that was presented successfully to the National Assembly by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee.
According to Rohee, the thrust of the Bill goes to the heart of Driving under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol and seeks to address the age-old problem.
He noted that DUI was an extremely serious problem facing the country and has resulted in numerous deaths on the roadways.
He noted that the legislation was timely, especially given the culture of Guyanese, especially weekends where there are a lot of activities where people imbibe and subsequently get behind the wheel.
He noted that several organizations including the Guyana Police Force have sought to edify the public as to the dangers of drinking and driving with little success.
“Education and Law must go hand in hand to address DUI,” said Rohee.
The Bill won the unanimous support of the opposition parties.
Leader of the Alliance for Change, Raphael Trotman told the National Assembly that he supported the Bill, saying that it was, “better late than never.”
PNCR shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Deborah Backer, in announcing her support for the legislation, noted that an intense public relations campaign would be necessary given that in order for the legislation to be effective it would require a change in the culture of Guyanese.
She added that the public must understand that the legislation was not a matter of cutting down on a person’s fun; rather it was aimed at saving lives.
Backer, who has been an advocate of several of the clauses in the legislation following its passage, expressed her joy that “the Bill will see the light of the day”.
She emphasised that it was quite common for persons who drink to have more than two beers.
“The statistics don’t lie and DUI is a major killer around the world and there are also several spin-offs such as the cost of dealing with the injured among others.”
According to the legislation, a person shall not drive or attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle on the road or other public place if he/she has consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the proportion thereof in his/her breath or blood exceeds the prescribed limit.

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