Vehicle seizure a smart way to sober up drivers

Thailand’s strict new law against driving while intoxicated during the New Year holidays is one of the few on the books that’s actually designed to save lives directly, and as such it should be loudly advertised – and just as strictly enforced.
Promulgated by the National Council for Peace and Order, the law deems that the vehicles of motorists who fail a breathalyser test will be seized. Already police have hauled off 116 vehicles, a result that’s both worrying and encouraging – encouraging because the government as a consequence is considering extending the measure year-round.
Drunk driving is certainly not the only cause of road causalities, but it is a major one. The World Health Organisation reckons that inebriated drivers are to blame for 26 per cent of road deaths in Thailand. The figure could actually be much higher, given that law enforcement is at times lax enough to let the drunks drive away. Poor law enforcement is a major reason for Thai roads ranking high among the most dangerous in the world. Keeping the drunks away from the steering wheel would obviously curb the accident toll.
The Peace and Order Maintaining Command (POMC) is now attempting to set an example in the strict enforcement of the vehicle-seizure law. Although having one’s car confiscated is soft punishment compared to time in jail, it’s enough to make motorists think twice about taking the risk, especially drivers who depend on their vehicles every day. Losing ownership of your car, however temporarily, has an immediate debilitating effect, and besides, the concept has proved “catchy” enough that word has spread widely on the social media.
This is not an easily administered programme, but the results could prove significant. Nearly 670 checkpoints have been set up – 361 in the North and 195 in the Northeast – jointly manned by police, soldiers attached to the POMC, and local administrative officials.
Having men in military uniform on the job makes a difference thanks to the perception that they’re less corrupt, but more importantly, having three different agencies represented is more likely to keep everyone honest. The government’s priority is to put an end to the influence wielded by people in positions of wealth and power, and in clever fashion the roadblocks are self-monitoring.
The checkpoints are also watching the speed of buses and public vans, though some doubt remains as to whether this can be as effectively controlled through the seizure of vehicles.
Thailand has in the past witnessed a series of campaigns aimed at curbing drunk driving, but none has had a notable effect. News of road accidents is despairingly mundane and even those resulting in multiple casualties fail to sustain the public will to bring about change.
If the government wants to reduce the death toll in holiday periods and throughout the year, it must first and foremost ensure that all public officials are engaged, committed and determined to show results. In this sense, the POMC is a refreshing addition to the arsenal in the war on highway carelessness, its sole aim being to execute the plan at hand.
If the goal is to save lives, the notion of seizing vehicles should apply to motorcyclists not wearing safety helmets – and their passengers. Motorcycles are always at the top of the list when it comes to accident statistics and the national disdain for helmets is among the biggest cause of road fatalities. While the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation has said that 14,000 people die on average each year due to inebriation, failure to wear a helmet accounts for 90 per cent of motorcycle fatalities. Refusal to wear a helmet on a bike demonstrates just as much disregard for the safety of others as driving while drunk.
If poor enforcement of the law continues to be a problem, these tragic numbers are unlikely to decline. The police have no excuse not to crack down, and they too should be punished if they fail to do so. There must be no compromise wherever public welfare is concerned.