BRSA: Random alcohol, drug testing a good move
With the amended Road Traffic Act set to introduce random alcohol and drug testing of drivers of articulated and public service vehicles (PSV), owners of such vehicles are being urged to ensure that they educate their drivers of the pending measure and make certain from now, that those drivers are not consuming alcohol while driving.
The call has come from President of the Barbados Road Safety Association, Sharmane Roland-Bowen who praised the drafters of the legislation for putting the safety of commuters first and foremost. She made the point while noting that she has received complaints over the years from several passengers of PSV, of drivers stopping the vehicles to purchase alcoholic beverages which are then consumed while driving. Even one drink, she contended, is too many for anyone who is entrusted with the lives of others.
“So I am happy that random alcohol and drug testing has been included in the legislation and while we are not alone targeting the PSV drivers, the fact is, it is no secret that some of them disrespect their passengers by drinking and totally disregard their responsibility to get them to their destination safely. What that tells the passenger is that they don’t care about their lives, they only care about their money,” she said.
The BRSA president added, “I am therefore so happy that the legislation, once enacted, will allow officers to test these persons randomly. The ability to carry out these spot checks should help ensure that those drivers are never driving under the influence.”
With that in mind, she also raised concern about the sale of alcoholic beverages in the various terminals across the island, contending that the relevant authorities had a duty to crack down on that as well.
“We do not know if alcohol is allowed to be sold in the terminals, but the BRSA does not feel that vendors in these places should be selling and serving alcohol. If we are looking at the health and safety of employees, the terminals are their workplace and we don’t feel that these places should be selling or serving alcohol, because if the temptation is not there they will be less tempted,” she stated.
Her comments came as she also commended provision being made within the legislation to increase the age for persons to be issued a driver’s licence to drive PSV. The Act now states that a driving licence shall not be issued or endorsed for as valid, for a person who is under the age of 25, and she suggests that this stipulation should help ensure that persons who are tasked with transporting others are mature enough to hold that responsibility.
(JRT)