I am thankful that I have never lost a close relative or any loved ones in a car crash, let alone a car crash with alcohol as a contributing factor. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for a mother, or a father, a wife or a husband, or siblings, to wait for their loved ones to return from their travelling destinations, only to get Police officers knocking on their door with news that would turn their worlds upside down for the rest of their lives.
I am, however, not totally immune to alcohol driving related tragedies altogether.
A few years ago, in Samoa, my mother in-law and sister in-law and niece, were driving out to the airport to bring home visiting relatives. It was a well anticipated family gathering. A reunion with overseas based relatives whom you’ve been distanced from for years is a festive occasion, always filled with excitement and joy of coming together again, to share stories of what you’ve missed in each others’ lives, and reminisce on memories of the past.
Sadly for my in-laws, it was not to be the case.
A drunk driver went straight for their car, (at highly accelerated speed levels) at a sharp bend. He was unable to control the vehicle motions under excessive speed and drunkenness.
My mother in-law was in her mid seventies at the time. She suffered severe injuries to her hip and legs. She could not walk for months and because of her age, her pain tolerance levels were low. She needed a cast and a few weeks of hospitalisation. To this day, she still suffers from stabbing pains in her hip and legs and the only thing her aged body can take for treatment is a list of prescribed pain killers and some good old fofo – Samoan massage.
My niece suffered knee and back injuries.
My sister in-law suffered severe jaw injuries and some scars.
The other driver? No injuries – at all. (Lucky for him).
They scraped past death on the ‘skin of their teeth’, on that fatal night.
Perhaps it was my mother in-law’s constant prayers, or my sister in-law’s alert state of mind (from being sober and she was well rested for the drive), or the hand of God himself, that had helped save their lives. I don’t know and I can’t say. But what is clear here is that had that driver been sober, he would have been able to control his vehicle, and most probably would have been more conscious that he was driving at high speed.
I shudder just to imagine what would have happened to us as a family, had they been taken away from us so suddenly, as a result of that night’s horrific events.
My husband would have had a major breakdown for sure.
She is the only other woman who reigns high in his heart. The only other person in his life, whom he can confide his innermost private thoughts and worries. And he knows without a doubt in his mind that she prays for him and his wife and children every single day. The one whom we look to for guidance when we are lost, or when life is too fast, she grounds us and brings life back into perspective, especially where our children are concerned. He would have lost his sister and niece that he holds so dear to him.
Thankfully we didn’t have to live that day.
But unfortunately for other families that we read about or watch on our evening news, they weren’t/aren’t so lucky.
The New Zealand Transport Agency holds statistics that show the number of deaths from road accidents have increased from 215 in 2013; to 245 deaths already recorded as of 28 November 2014 and we are not even through the Christmas rush yet.
Having to constantly familiarise myself with these statistics for work purposes, to be quite frank has made me a paranoid driver at times.
I get particularly paranoid to drive during the weekends, nights and especially during the holidays now. We had to cancel a road trip on Labour Weekend this year, partly because I was literally afraid that our poor old family bus, (Toyota 8 seater) may not hold well against a hard hit crash on the motorway and we would be demolished to crushed metal. I began to methodically explore various scenarios.
1.I might suffer the most if we crashed because I’m in the passenger seat out front, and with my long long legs – they would be crushed (wincing at the thought) bones splintering from my knees, cutting through my skin, and blood splashed everywhere. If I survive they would get amputated and dear me, I don’t think I can handle living in a wheel chair for the rest of my life. Fabricated legs (I don’t mean to sound selfish and inconsiderate) but really, they’re not the most comfortable thing in the world, and I do like to wear knee length dresses a lot. Which let’s face won’t be the most desirable look of the year, really.
2.I might die, my husband and children would survive and he’ll most probably have himself another wife (despite his ongoing admissions to never EVER wanting to marry again should I be the first one to die), who will enjoy having my children as her servants.
3.My husband might die and leave me alone with five children and we would suffer financially – tremendously, because; a) with my salary we won’t qualify for any Housing (because we won’t afford to keep our home anymore) or benefits even as a solo mother, b) I don’t trust insurance companies (like ever, despite having three or more policies that I can attest to) and we may never get his life insurance pay out.
4.We all die, our bodies scattered all over the motorway and they may never find my beautiful head with my beautiful face (too sure – yes, well I’m about to die in these thoughts, so a girl is allowed to have some vain thoughts please) and no one but my poor mother would be there to bury us. (Which reminds me, I need to find mom some secure legal guardians, should something happen to me – because I’m her only child).
5.The worse one – that haunts me night and day, is that we survive and one of our children should be lost to such an accident – I would rather die a thousand deaths than to endure the unimaginable pain of the death of any of my children. I’ve survived a lot of horrifying battles in my life – but that – I know, I will never be able to survive – so I constantly thank God, each day, for the things that I sometimes take for granted – like all of us, getting home safe and sound from work and school each day.
So what can you and I do as members of society to help reduce road fatalities resulting in deaths from alcohol related driving and keep paranoid woman drivers like me sane?
Hence with the alcohol driving limit dropping from 400mcg levels of alcohol breath to 250mcg as of tomorrow 1 December 2014, I felt compelled to write a gentle reminder, to caution all drivers – do not take chances and risks with your life and that of others. It is far too precious and life is far too short to gamble away with poor attitudes towards alcohol driving, which is a calculated risk and can be easily avoided.
Lower alcohol limit for adult drivers 20 years and over
From Monday 1 December 2014, the alcohol limit for drivers aged 20 years and over will be lowered.
This change means that drivers aged 20 years and over must not drive if:
•the amount of alcohol in their breath is more than 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
•the amount of alcohol in their blood is more than 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood
For drivers under the age of 20 years, the limit remains at zero.
Drivers who are over 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, will continue to face criminal sanctions as is currently the case.
Drivers who fail an evidential breath test between 251 and 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath will receive an infringement notice with a $200 infringement fee and 50 demerit points. Drivers in this range will not be able to elect an evidential blood test.
Drivers who accumulate 100 or more demerit points from driving offences within two years will receive a three month driver licence suspension. An infringement offence will not result in the driver receiving a criminal conviction. (Taken from the NZ Transport Agency Website).
I can hear a voice, saying “speak English to me”.
Okay so basically if:
•You’re 20 years old and over the new alcohol driving breath limit for you drops from 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath to 250mcg.
•You’re below 20 years old – there’s no driving for you if you’ve had an alcoholic beverage buddy.
•If you’re in the 20 years old and above category and you’re caught with a breath alcohol level of over 250mcg but not more than 400mcg – you get an infringement notice, a $200 infringement fee and 50 demerit points off your Driver’s License. This will not result in receiving a Criminal Conviction.
•Driver’s who get reading levels over 400mcg will continue to face criminal sanctions – as per current system.
•If you accumulate 100 or more demerit points within two years, you will get a three month driver licence suspension.
Tips to prevent getting yourself through any of these avoidable situations and assist with saving lives:
•Many of us know that it only takes about three to five 8% alcoholic drinks to go over the 400mcg limit – so do the math, depending on various factors, which include sleep deprivation and food intake, it may only take one or two bottles of 8% might just get you over 250mcg. There’s no solid way to measure these things – so the best thing to do; is to just stay well clear away from the wheel when and if you are planning to have a night out with friends, or just having a couple at a bar on your way home from work, or just having a few at after work functions before heading home. Don’t risk it!
•We’ve all heard this before – and I can’t stress it enough – sort out a sober driver!
•If you’re having a night out with friends, share the cab fee and enjoy your night without having to play rocks and scissors over who’s going to drive.
•If you’re under 20 – I really shouldn’t be saying – “should you really be drinking?” (because I’ve had my share of teenage magic drinks merriness). But I can surely say – think long and hard about the possibility that you could put your young life and others into jeopardy by getting behind a wheel, and you do not want a Criminal History at a young age. Trust me – it creates so much hassle for you when your life is about to start – it affects things like finding a job (because ; a) most jobs require that you have a solid transport mode, b) most jobs prefer to employ non-criminals – simple.
•If you don’t have a valid Driver’s License – it probably means that you either; a) Do not qualify to drive on the roads because you did not pass the driving test, thereby meaning that you driving is a potential hazard for all other members of the public on the road; b) It is illegal for you to be driving and should not be driving at all; c) your vehicle may get impounded; d) you will receive a fine that you most probably can’t afford to pay and e) that your vehicle is most probably not fit to be on the road or it isn’t your car to begin with and the owner of that vehicle will be paying for your poor judgement.
•If you want to have a few, just stay home and enjoy it in the comfort of your own house, responsibly.
•If you see your friends and relatives driving under the influence, ‘Be a legend’ and stop them from driving – invite them to sleep at your place till morning, arrange a sober driver for them, put them in a cab, or sit them down and have a heart to heart. If you truly care for them, give them some tough love!
For more information on Driver’s Licenses, Alcohol Limits etc – visit the NZTA website there’s tons of helpful information there and statistics showing the rapid increase in death tolls from road crashes alone.
Remember – ‘Be a Legend’ and stop a mate/loved one from driving if they’re under the influence.
You may not see it – but you could actually be saving a lot of lives from a lot of pain and suffering.
