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Stop Drunk Driving: 'Bars should hire taxis'

February 04, 2010 17:41 IST
In response to the incident of a young Mumbai woman killing two people in a suspected case of drinking while driving early on Saturday morning, we asked readers to send us suggestions on what young people must do to stop such tragedies that destroy lives.

Get Ahead readers Yatindra, Raphael Joseph, Dion Fernandes, Vijay Somasundaram and Viplav Deshpande wrote with their valuable suggestions.

If implemented these could surely help save a few lives to say the least:


Yatindra: We need to act like responsible citizens

According to me there ought to be a stricter law for the offenders. For instance imprisonment for longer duration and also a heavy fine as this is a culpable offence. The accused should not be let off easily.


Dion Fernandes: Offenders should pay heavily   

Drunk drivers really should not be allowed to possess a license to drive, so the license should be cancelled after the first such incident. If the driver shows no remorse for killing, as this recent one, he/she should be made to transfer all the
funds in his/her personal savings/account to the aggrieved parties.


Vijay Somasundaram: Bars should have a taxi service

The pubs and bars should hire or purchase taxis just like what hospitals do for ambulances, and ensure appointing a driver who is a teetotaller.


Raphael Joseph: Display photos of such accidents prominently

A few years ago, there was an accident near Worli (Mumbai) where the car was split into two pieces. Such was the impact of the accident. These kind of gory photos should be enlarged like the 70mm screens that we see in the movies and placed as hoardings at important junctions where vehicular traffic is high like and there should be some powerful sentences/ slogans/ messages that will make the drivers think twice before driving drunk, such as:


Viplav Deshpande: Make offeneders stand outside bars as community service

For people caught drunk driving, teach them a lesson that they will never forget. The punishment should involve all the following.

To educate people, a full-fledged ad campaign educating people about the hazards, punishments and results of drunken driving in all metros in all media should be undertaken. If celebs can be roped in then all the better.


Reader invite

Share with us your suggestions on how we can eliminate drunken driving among young Indians and how we can bring safety to self and others on the road.

Write in to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line -- Stop drunk driving today! -- and we will publish them, right here. We want to hear from you!

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