THE PRESS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1981. Stay sober, even if it hurts

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 20

THE PRESS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1981. Stay sober, even if it hurts

Social occasions with Christmas as their excuse seem to begin earlier every year. This year the Ministry of Transport, has. responded early, too: its blitz against, drivers who drink began on November 27 and will continue until January 3. Such blitzes are becoming more frequent. Traffic officers still find no shortage of “customers.” The impression remains that when more. traffic officers. are looking out for drinking and driving offenders, they do no more than detect a small, additional fraction of the very large number of offences being committed every day, or every night, on New Zealand’s roads. A survey early this year suggested that only one driver in one thousand of those who drive with a level of alcohol in their blood above that permitted by the law, is actually detected. More than 10,000 people are convicted in New Zealand each year for drinking and driving offences. On that basis, something like ten million offences escape detection. Nor have New Zealanders any reason to be pleased with their record of behaviour on the roads this year. So far more than 570 people have died in road accidents, compared with about 530 at the same time last year, an increase of nearly nine per cent. The point has been made frequently; it deserves to be made again, that a disaster of this magnitude, from any other cause, would bring an overwhelming demand from the community for inquiries and legislation to ensure that such a death toll could not be. repeated. Instead, the steady trickle of deaths goes on, in spite of the efforts of law enforcement agencies.

For young people, and for those , who use the roads late at night, especially at week- . ends and at holidays, a motor accident remains one: of the most likely ways of ' dying- - No enforcement of the law, short of curfews or a total prohibition on drinking and driving, can do more than contain the number of drinking and driving offences, or the number of injuries and deaths caused by those who drive when, their judgment; is impaired. New Zealanders are not going to give up their Christmas parties in; theinterests of road safety. More education in road safety, and in the dangers of drinking arid driving, may help; the greater prospect of detection arid punishment during an enforcement “blitz” is some deterrent. Perhaps the most practical and acceptable measure, especially during the month of extra festivities, is for partygoers to ensure that at least one member of each group remains sober enough to drive safely and obey the law. Party organisers perform a valuable service if they ensure that adequate and tasty nonalcoholic drinks are available for drivers ready to practise self-restraint. The system still hurts. No party seems as exciting, few jokes seem as funny, few flirtations are as successful, without the stimulus of alcohol. Yet groups of friends should not find it impossible to work out rosters of “stay-sober” drivers. Better, surely, that small numbers of people suffer occasional sobriety at parties, than that larger numbers run the risk of arrest and punishment, or of injury or death, as their portion of “Christmas cheer.”