Driving Under the Influence

May 24, 2009 Editorial

Finally, sanity might be introduced on our roads and highways with the President assenting to the “Driving under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) Bill” (it is actually the “Evidence and Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2008” – but who would know what that is all about?) that had been passed by the National Assembly last July.

Very simply, if a driver is now caught DUI there are going to be sanctions – unlike what has prevailed up to now in our country. The penalties do not appear to be draconian in the least – a fine of $7500 for the first offence –which is just about what Guyanese plunk down for a round of drinks. For a repeat conviction the drunk driver gets slapped with a 12-month disqualification from holding a driver’s license (and so barred from driving for the duration.)

Finally, for the incorrigible drinker who gets convicted a third time – it is “three strikes and you’re out!”: the driver is permanently disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence.
In New York, where most Guyanese have relatives and would be aware of the downside risks of DUI, in addition to the fines and suspension, there is the possibility of doing jail time as well as losing one’s vehicle.
There are also tougher regulations for commercial drivers – those that drive trucks, buses etc – since the dangers they pose are considerably greater.
The President held off signing the Bill into law because he felt that the public needed to be sensitised to the requirements, implications and penalties of the new law.

The Police have conducted a commendable and comprehensive programme of public awareness since the beginning of this year and it would be surprising if any Guyanese would claim that he/she was not aware of the new dispensation. This suggestion had also been made during the debate in Parliament by PNC parliamentarian Debborah Backer who had pointed out, “…it is easy to legislate but what we are talking about is changing the social culture of a large section of our Guyanese people of all ethnicities.”
Drinking has unfortunately long been embedded in the culture of our people but what has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades is the astounding increase in the number of vehicles – and the concomitant number of drunk drivers. Drunk drivers inevitably mean more accidents since alcohol impairs the judgement and response time of those DUI.

The President pointed out that in the 731 accidents between 2004 and 2008, there were 835 deaths and close to half of them were determined to be caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol. “That’s more deaths in five years than all the murders we have had over the comparative period.” And this figure encompasses only the fatalities: imagine the multiple numbers of those who have been injured, maimed and scarred for life in those accidents.
The legal limit for being convicted is clearly spelled out under the law: a breath alcohol concentration of 35 micrograms in 100 millilitres and blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres. While the actual concentration would vary with the body mass of the drinker, these concentrations are precipitated by consuming approximately two bottles of beer.

In practical terms, what this means for anyone who has consumed this amount of alcohol or more is that they should have someone who has not imbibed do any necessary driving. In other jurisdictions, enforcement of DUI laws has forced the introduction of “designated drivers” into social situations: individuals who commit to abstain from alcohol for the duration so that they could safely get the others back home. We know that there will be many kinks that will have to be sorted out as the police begin to implement the new law. But we would all agree that something had to be done to stop the slaughter on our roads caused by DUI.
Let us all pledge to “get with the programme”.