Shouldn’t drunken pedestrians and pedal cyclists be charged too?

Apr 04, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am grateful to have you publish these few concerns which I am sure is worrisome to many other road users.
First, let me say that is so sad that alcohol has become the number one priority for so many of our citizens, leading to physical and verbal abuse, child molestation, rape, broken families and homes, violence and even death not only to those who consume it but also those who are innocently affected by the irresponsible behavior of the drunk.
Many times we hear of accidents caused by drunk drivers, speeding and stray animals. However, there are others that frequently occur but go either untold or hidden behind those who choose to take sides and not let the truth be known to the public of who the real perpetrators are for the cause of some of the accidents on our roads.
Let’s take for instance two articles; one carried by the Guyana Chronicle on Saturday March 29, 2014, captioned “Phagwah Day accident victim still in serious condition” involving Gavin Gordon and a rice farmer, and another carried by Kaieteur News on Tuesday April 1, 2014 captioned “Phagwah Day accident leaves father of seven bedridden” – Driver of vehicle involved offered $20,000 compensation. This a case where the pedestrian was allegedly drunk and staggered across the public road in front of the vehicle involved in the accident, not even paying attention to the traffic approaching and there were many who witnessed the accident. He is fortunate to be alive and the driver of the vehicle was not drunk or speeding because the outcome of the accident would have been worse as we see on many occasions.
Can you imagine if the vehicle that hit him was occupied by passengers and had ended in fatalities for the occupants had the vehicle crashed?
These cases leave me with a few questions:
1. When there is a road accident involving two or more parties, why is it that only the drivers are tested for the use of alcohol and not all parties involved i.e. pedestrian and pedal cyclist?
2. If a driver is found driving under the influence of alcohol he is charged, why not have a law to test and charge the drunken pedal cyclists and pedestrians since they become an obstruction to traffic?
3. When damages are done to vehicles by drunk pedestrian, who pays for the repairs of those vehicles?
4. Why so often only the pedestrians are referred to as the innocent human beings and drivers are referred to as monsters more so in the media?
5. Why don’t the writers of the articles in the press do some research before they publish stories covering only one side?
I would encourage the writers of the articles to have a balanced coverage.
Niranjanie Bassoodeo

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Shouldn’t drunken pedestrians and pedal cyclists be charged too?

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