A YOUNG father was killed when the car he was travelling collided head-on with a hilux along Prince Philip highway, Kukum, in the early hours of Monday.
His two companions are fighting for their lives at the National Referral Hospital.
The trio were reportedly drunk.
Not only that, but they also took the wrong side of the lane. Instead of using the east-bound lane, they used the west-bound lane while traveling east.
It was a horrific crash. And it was by sheer luck the other two survived.
Their car was written off.
This incident, sad and horrible as it was, reminds us again of the dangers of drink-driving.
The police kept reminding us time and again that it is illegal and dangerous to drive while drinking.
This is a simple message that even a child would understand. That it is wrong to drive while under the influence of alcohol.
Alcohol impairs a driver’s vision, focus, and judgement that the likelihood of running into an accident while driving is always there.
Drunken drivers not only put their lives at risk, but more seriously, they are a threat to other road users and public safety.
Monday’s crash was a classic example.
Occupants of the hilux the car collided with are on their business when this car, travelling on the wrong side of the road, hit them unnecessarily.
The hilux was badly damaged and its occupants shaken and traumatised.
What more are the police going to say before drivers get the message that drink-driving is dangerous?
And when are people going to listen?
Honiara is the only south Pacific capital city that you see people drink and drive without police taking action against them.
The trend we’re seeing here is police only come on the road when a person is already killed or a damaged car was left on the road after it hit a post or another vehicle.
While we appreciate the good work our force are doing in raising public awareness about the dangers of drink-driving, they should also be out on the road regularly looking drunken drivers.
A strong message needs to be sent out to every driver that if he drinks and drives, the police will be out there to get him.
This is not happening at the moment.
Drivers are not taking the message seriously because traffic laws are not well monitored and enforced.
If a driver knew the chances of him being arrested and taken to court if he drinks and drivers are highly likely, he will think twice the next time he takes his beer.
A proactive force is what we need to clamp down on the increasing trend of drink-driving.
