Stiffer price to be paid for drunk driving

Foundation suggests night in jail to sleep it off

By Supawadee Inthawong & Manop Thip-osod

Tougher penalties are being sought to deter drunk driving and are likely to go into force by year-end, said Probation Department director-general Wanchai Rujanawong.

He said the proposed amendments raise jail terms for drunk drivers to one year from three months and fines to 20,000 baht from 10,000 baht.

He said motorists take the drunk driving regulations for granted and many tend to repeat the offence because minor punishments are imposed.

The amendments to the Land Traffic Act call for other measures, including suspension of driving licences and up to 40 hours of community service.

He said the number of community service hours would depend on the alcohol level in an offender's blood.

He said juvenile offenders would face the same penalties, but they would be tried in Juvenile and Family Court.

Mr Wanchai said the draft bill has received the full backing of authorities concerned and is pending consideration in the Council of State.

He said the draft will see quick passage when it is forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly.

"The new rules will not be enforced by Songkran, but they will when the New Year arrives," Mr Wanchai said, referring to the time when drunk driving is blamed for high numbers of road deaths.

The stiffer penalties have been hailed by the Don't Drive Drunk Foundation.

Taejing Siripanich, the foundation's secretary-general, said the existing rules have failed to deter people from abusing alcohol and then driving.

He suggested "detention in prison" as a deterrent to drunk driving, saying that drunk driving would drop sharply if that measure was adopted.

"Drunk motorists should be put in jail if their blood-alcohol level exceeds the legal limit. This is to reduce the chance of accidents and give them time to get sober," he said.

Under existing regulations, a person is legally drunk if his or her blood contains 150 milligrammes or more of alcohol per 100 millilitres.

"A night in prison will teach them a lesson. I think it would reduce drunk driving by more than half," he said.

Dr Taejing also said authorities concerned may want to consider taking action against the passengers of impaired motorists. In certain countries, passengers are fined for taking a ride with a drunk driver.

He also called for corporate responsibility from alcohol producers, saying they should chip in and set up a fund for victims of drunk driving or help police by regulating drunk driving.

Pol Col Rithi Wisetkhamin, traffic inspector of Sutthisarn police station, welcomed the tougher penalties, but said the parties concerned should take the fight against drunk driving to another level. "I think we need to go beyond drunk driving. People who booze should never be allowed to get behind the wheel," he said.

He said the anti-drunk driving campaign was effective in cutting the number of road accidents, deaths and injuries since it was introduced years ago.

He cited as proof a sharp decrease in accidents along Ratchadapisek road, the city's night entertainment strip. Before the campaign, crashes were reported almost every night.

Meanwhile, FM 91 Traffic Pro, a traffic radio station, yesterday reported 82 accidents in and around the city in which four people were killed and 64 others injured.

Pre-Songkran casualties are likely to pressure authorities concerned into doubling efforts to curb road accidents when the long holiday starts later this week.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007