Being responsible
View(s):Name the first five things that pop into your mind when I say… New Year’s! For my brother it was Family, Holiday, Fun, Presents and Fireworks, in that order. No doubt for most of you the list would be similar. To my surprise, every time I played this game a mental image of a car spinning out of control on a dark road slithered into my mind. Morbid? Perhaps. But no one can deny that holiday seasons seem to be (sadly) custom- made for road accidents, along with the presents.
This is certainly the season to be jolly! There are gifts to be bought and shopping to do and parties to go to. That means that our fellow citizens take it into their heads to have a ‘little drink’ or two and then drive home merrily.
Why am I fussing about this when it happens all year around? Well, the sad part is that this time of year we celebrate new beginnings: new hopes and dreams, new resolutions, new attitudes to life in general. So when we wake up to news reports of people having celebrated just a little too hard the night before and then wrapped themselves around a pole or tree on their way home…I feel it kills the New Year spirit.
Why is it that drunk driving is just not considered dangerous in Sri Lanka? Here in Sri Lanka, refusing a glass because it’s your turn behind the wheel is seen as a sign of weakness. Oh, it’s fine if you’re a lady, everyone knows ladies should be more careful while driving anyway… of course the police are much less likely to lock you up (or even fine you) if you’re a lady! This gender double standard is perhaps a conversation for another date but suffice it to say that the prevailing wisdom of my beloved country never fails to horrify me.
Driving is not simply a means to get from A to B. It’s a conscious, responsible act. We pass a test and receive a license that qualifies us to get behind the wheel. Saying no to a drink isn’t a weakness; it’s being responsible. Yes, that may make you the boring person, but you’ve potentially saved the life of the next person while walking on the road in front of your car this holiday season.
So next time you want to indulge at a party, go ahead! But pass the keys to someone else first.
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