A common joke is that drunkards somehow always find their way home. No mention of the havoc they may cause along the way. Jokes aside, driving under the influence can be dangerous not just to the driver but the other occupants in the car, which usually is the case. It also endangers the lives of other motorists and pedestrians. I’m most nervous about getting on the road on rainy days and late at night, especially on weekends because you just don’t know who’ll run into you. There are times you come across wreckage and there’s no doubt in your mind that whoever was driving that car must have been drunk. All the more reason for the Traffic Cops to crack down on these errant drivers. I don’t even understand why this is up for debate. Rich or poor, celebrity or not, the law is the law. Stay off the roads for everybody’s sake and if you insist on driving, then be prepared to pay the fine, which is modest if you ask me. Rwf 150,000 is nothing compared to the damage a lone drunk driver can cause. In the event of an accident, some victims may have to be hospitalized and you better hope there are no fatalities! Add the damage to the car or cars involved and public property, and you’ll have an outstanding bill. I’m totally on board with the proposal to suspend repeat offenders’ licenses. If we can’t smoke in public, we shouldn’t be out on the roads under the influence. No one is saying don’t drink at all. Just do so responsibly. And you have many options. Before hitting the bar, plan your exit plan. Most people drink with friends. You’re telling me you don’t have at least one sober pal to drive you home? But you may not even have to do that as most drinking joints have cabs and motos waiting right outside. Let one drop you off. The other alternative is drinking at home. I know most social drinkers like the banter and camaraderie the bar offers but I don’t see why you can’t drink at home every now and then. I know the beer, wine or whatever won’t taste different but then again, I don’t drink so I wouldn’t know! And as for bar owners concerned that the cap is affecting business, well, you want your patrons to return again and again. Sooner or later, they won’t if you keep the drinks coming well knowing they’ll leave your bar too inebriated to drive. Some people become abusive after downing a few. Others have lost valuables or been taken advantage of because they were too drunk to fight back. I worked close to a nightclub years ago and sometimes I’d find club goers sprawled on the sidewalk outside. My presumption was that they had been thrown out because even nightclubs close at some point. Why subject yourself to ridicule or risk your life when you can drink in moderation?
