Drink-Drive – Satyamev Jayate – My thoughts

This sunday the episode on Satyamev Jayate touched on the issue of being an alcoholic and what all happens,  It showed a case of a family which lost its son due to some rash driving by a drunk, I would like to touch on that point , We all love to have a good time and Alcohol seems to be one that generates the FUN, although I personally have had more fun when I am sober then Drunk.

I am not going to lecture on evils of drinking etc because I drink myself and I drink almost daily. I come home from work and have a pint or Two (max) of beer, that’s about it .  I also have to mention here that I love to have scotch too, especially the single malts and preferably 18 or more years old, One of my best friend says if you have to drink poison then might as well drink an expensive one :), I also have a special place for RC the indian brand, don’t ask me why , I just do.

Anyway this post is not on that , I will talk about my drunk incidents some other time .. What I wanted to talk about is the phenomenon of  Drinking and driving..  believe me in my line of work I find them  in huge numbers, Unlike the common belief that its just the youngsters, it is not so.. I have had the privilege of seeing old-young-not so young- men-women  The whole lot..

The best thing is you go to the driver’s side, ask him to switch off the engine. Then ask them have you had a drink, the typical reply is first

“NO”…

me – “I can smell it on your breath”…

him- “Sorry, I have had just half or Just a Pint”…

You stand there and Smile… Off course you have…

Then you ask them to step out of the vehicle, the Door swings open, they are so pissed , instead of putting their leg out first , they have to twist their bottoms then plonk their leg, Hold the DOOR TIGHTLY, get the second leg out, then slowly try to get up.. Ooops they can’t so they try again… When on two feet the Feet are firmly on ground, but the upper body waist upwards is sort of moving on its own…

They have just had ONE pint … Yes sir you have indeed.. and the word MORON is tattooed on my HEAD…

Ask them their name, they give a whole history, name, date of birth, where they live etc etc out it comes like a river flowing…

You ask them again very politely, are you sure you had just a pint,

“Yes, before that I had another one earlier “… the Smile on your face widens… How earlier was that…?

“Afternoon lunch .. ” so basically to tell the truth and from experience they have been drinking since lunch up till now, You got no other choice but to get him off the road, Else he would endanger the rest of the people.

Christmas, new years, Diwali, Holi these festivals are there, I can understand to have fun, enjoy but they don’t give the RIGHT to get drunk and endanger other people who are enjoying the festive season according to their choice. I can understand the need for a Drink during these occasions, I do too, But I Never Drive after having a drink, and if I have to go for a drink I take a Taxi or Bus it.

My friends who are with me Know very well that they dare not do it themselves, Call me Unfriendly or bad person But they know if they drive after having a drink I WILL CALL THE POLICE to rat on them because I don’t want to feel the Guilt if the same person drives his car into someone or something killing/hurting others or themselves, It does NOT make me wrong or less friendly, it makes me human because I have a conscience.

It’s nothing to do with Friendship honor, or to do anything with love for friends, If you think otherwise fair enough don’t read further, BUT don’t let them have that drink before they drive. If you are a good friend , such a caring friend Pay for the Taxi to take them home, Pay for the Bus Fare but DO NOT let them Drive Drunk.

That to me is FRIENDSHIP honour.

That to me shows you care for that person.

It’s easier said Oh one small shot or A pint won’t matter, It does matter. Any amount of alcohol effects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.

I learnt my lesson in a Bad horrible accident years ago, So All who read this Please be careful, Tell the people around you to be careful, Don’t do anything silly, and ALWAYS Always think hundred times driving after a drink, It’s not worth it. Most young people will give two hoots to what I have said, But Guys and Gals Please Think . Everything gets spoilt in an instant, Remember when drunk , THE CAR IS A LOADED GUN, a tool to do serious damage with, it is a serious WEAPON.

So the only safe option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive, and never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is intending to drive, The law needs to change, it should not only be the drunk driver, But the people who Knew that the person is Drunk and Knew he/she is going to Drive, Knowing this they still allow the person to drive, Then IF something does go wrong, they all need to be held responsible because as I said earlier the car is a loaded gun that we have allowed this person who has had a drink to use, So we should be held responsible. The same way as we would if we actually hand a gun to a person to shoot with.

As the episode says Law needs to change to see this as an accident , but instead look at it as MURDER.

I know a bit farfetched but end of the day, this could be Abetment to the accident, My conscience does not allow this , so hopefully it should not allow to a lot of people too.

Anyway these are my random thoughts good-bad whatever… it’s me and my Silly mind thinks sometimes…… Remember if you stop one drunk driver driving back home or anywhere you may have saved a life, which sure would amount to a GOOD DEED FOR THE DAY... and I know it works with majority of the people on the good deed for the day , to please the GOD.  well here is a way that God will surly be happy with you.

THINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!