Christmas is well and truly here. Today will be the last day of shopping as thousands (mostly men) rush out to buy presents for their loved ones at the last minute.
Shop owners will, no doubt, be happy, as the last minute craze results in heaps of sales. Parties are also in full swing as people gather to celebrate with a few drinks and engage in some merriment. In the run-up to the festive season, various organizations have embarked on awareness campaigns to dissuade people from drink driving – and with good reason.
Many people are responsible, and do not drink when they have to take the wheel, but there are a good many others who do. Our drink driving laws are lax – and this is due to a legal loophole which does not allow for random testing. A motorist must be seen to be a hazard to themselves or others in order to be stopped for a test. In the case of accidents, tests are also carried out, but that is often too late.
Driving under the influence of alcohol causes lives to be lost. Sometimes it involves just one person in a car. Other times it involves all the occupants of a car. And other times still, it involves innocent people in other vehicles who are completely sober.
Loss of life is always tragic. But when it is preventable, the trauma is always worse. There is no excuse for driving under the influence of excessive alcohol. In the past, people have been seen vomiting and then getting into their cars to drive home. There is no way that such behaviour can be justified, condoned or commended. It is stupid, irresponsible, reckless and can lead to very tragic consequences.
Accidents are always going to happen - even without alcohol. But it is scientifically proven – driving under the influence of alcohol severely impairs judgment and control that a person has over a vehicle.
And that leads us to another issue – drugs. Driving under the influence of drugs also impairs judgment and can lead to equally tragic consequences. No matter what happens, people will indulge over the Christmas and New Year period – people can never be stopped from doing it – it is their decision. But the decision they should then in turn take is to enjoy themselves responsibly. If people are going to drink too much, then they should take a taxi or a bus home. There are numerous – and quite reasonable – taxi companies and Arriva has also laid on special services. People also need to consider the option of the designated driver who will not drink – in that way, revelers can car pool and make it back home in groups.
At the end of the day, the message is clear – do not drink and drive, do not take drugs and drive and do not consume too much alcohol. Also, as the Sense group has advocated for years, even if you are not driving, still watch your consumption. Too much alcohol not only leads to illness, it can also cause fights and arguments – which are of course the antithesis of what the Christmas Spirit is all about. While it is always fun to go out and make merry – especially at this time of the year – we should also remember that Christmas and New Year are both occasions to be with family, to be together and to nurture the bond between us.
It is also a time for giving, and we encourage the very generous Maltese people to give as much as they can during the l-Istrina campaign to help those who are not as fortunate as others. This event will be held on Boxing Day.
In saying this, we wrap up this leading article by wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas. The Malta Independent Daily will not be published on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It will be published again on 27 December. Be safe – don’t drink and drive.