Sponsored by TAC
Come spring, come summer… and then those afternoon BBQ’s with family & friends. The one thing I love about summer; is the family outdoor gatherings, lazy Sundays, & simple everyday hangin’ with friends & family. There seems to be this peace & serenity with Summer & the good old’ Aussie BBQ.
You will often see my family ‘pool hop’ from friend-to-friend. It is one thing my husband said to me from the get-go: we are not having a pool. So, we enjoy our friend’s hospitality that do, & organise those lazy afternoons filled with sun, good company, drinks, & just simple summer fun…
Admittedly, if there is any social occasion that involves alcohol, I always opt out of driving. He is not a big drinker (ok, neither am I), but let’s be honest, there are times over the course of an afternoon that he may lose count over the number of those beers… it is that summer feelin’ I guess.
Jokingly, I always thought that we should have one of those personal, hand held breathalyser devices that test your own alcohol limit. Not that I would ever actually hope that I would need it, but that ‘back-up’ kind of feeling when you just have an inkling of doubt in your mind of whether you have had ‘one to many’.
I never did buy one. I fortunately have never been in that situation. And, we have never had to question whether he should drive home or not. But then again, I imagine that some people have. Because y’know… it is natural to get carried away sometimes with good social fun when drinks & alcohol are involved. I mean, no one will think differently of you for letting your hair down. But, it is when you hop in the car thinking you are ok that a fatality could eventuate.
And I watch those ads on tv about people hoping in their car after a good night out & wonder ‘wouldn’t people like know if they are over the limit?’
I then think, it is those drivers that think they are ok, hop in their car & drive, that not only put their life in danger but others as well. And I think ‘holy s*hit’ there are possibly drink drivers out on the road when I am too.
Thankfully TAC is creating awareness about new legislation that has just taken place that requires drink-drivers whose license is cancelled to have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicle as a condition of re-licensing. It basically stops them turning on their car unless they blow into the breathalyser attached.
Drink driving scares the absolute begebers out of me. My dad’s dad always gave him money when he went out. Not for food, not for alcohol… but for a taxi to get home. He always said, you use this if you ever feel under the influence at all & not safe to drive. I would rather give you money for a taxi every time you go out then you risk anything to hop into your car. And if you use it, it is the best money I could have spent.
I only hope that over time the number of drink drivers that drive on our roads is reduced.
I only hope that the death toll will now be reduced because of this new legislation.
And now, I know, the use of alcohol interlock devices with all convicted drink drivers has the potential to increase harm minimization on Victoria’s roads, & may even influence behavioural change.
That is a damn good thing in my eyes.
{photo credit: ‘PixelPlacebo’ via photopin cc}
