Pause and Think
South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD), an organization that is committed to stop drunk driving in order to protect families from needless deaths and to make a difference, published this interesting poem in its website. It may not match Shakespearian sonnets’ rhythm and meter, or Sappho’s poetic skill, but I tell you, this literary piece is equally priceless.
I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mum
So I had a sprite instead.
I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
That I didn’t drink and drive,
Though some friends said I should.
I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right,
The party finally ended,
And the kids drove out of sight.
I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece,
I never knew what was coming, Mum
Something I expected least.
Now, I’m lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
The kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mum, his voice seems far away.
My own blood’s all around me,
As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
This girl is going to die.
I’m sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high,
Because he chose to drink and drive,
Now I would have to die.
So why do people do it, Mum
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
Like a hundred stabbing knives.
Someone should have taught him,
That it’s wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I’d still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mum
I’m getting really scared.
These are my final moments,
And I’m so unprepared.
I wish that you could hold me Mum,
As I lie here and die.
I wish I could say, “I love you, Mum!”
So I love you and goodbye.
So how did the poem made you feel? You know, the first time I read it was when I was looking for the latest statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), and mind you, it caused me goose bumps. Out of awe, perhaps? I’m not sure. All I know was that, the poems made me sad at the same time it empowered me to break free from the spirit of alcoholism trying to bind me lately. (I use alcoholic beverage as a stimulant while writing my articles. Call it Edgar Allan Poe syndrome.) For indeed, I’ll never know how many lives will be ruined just by my simple choice to drink (Though, personally, I’m really not into driving while drunk). But here’s a great news SADD will be happy to hear about (Okay, it’s corny, so what?).
Just recently, Japanese auto makers Toyota and Nissan announced that they are in the process of developing concept cars that have the ability to detect whether their drivers are drunk while driving. My source said this is because of the alarming rise of fatalities due to alcohol-related road accidents. The sad parts here is that, according to NHSTA, the victims of these fatal crashes are commonly those aging 18 to 24. Meanwhile, in South Africa, about 9,000 people are killed annually and 75,000 are injured primarily caused by drunk driving. Next to AIDS and tobacco-related ailments, road accidents are deemed to become third of the world’s greatest public health problem by 2020.
But with these concept cars from Toyota and Nissan, which feature an anti-drunk technology, I believe there will really be an emergent change in people’s lifestyle, particularly in road traffic. These cars cone with sweat sensors mounted on their steering wheel. This equipment has the capability to determine the alcohol-intake of the driver as well as detect abnormality in the steering wheel’s performance. In addition, it also incorporates cameras placed on the dashboard that can find out whether the driver’s eyes are in focus or not.
Yet, I agree with my source, in saying that at the end of the day, education is still the key towards achieving accident-free roads. Education backed with vigilant actions. Pause for a while and think about it, my friend.
