The event is organized with the aim to draw public attention to various factors that affect the ability to drive a car at other times, not only in Midsummer, when there is a lot of talk about responsible driving. The data obtained from the survey clearly indicate various problem factors that we encounter on the road on a daily basis – 10% of drivers admit that they have been driving under the influence of alcohol, 26% have driven a car after drinking alcohol, not exceeding the permitted per mille, still others regularly at the wheel on the phone, eating, sipping coffee or doing other side things that reduce concentration directly while driving.
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“However, our attitude towards road traffic regulations and mutual respect for each other is still quite low,” admits Jānis Vanks, the head of the Safe Driving School. “The good news is that the responsible drivers are slowly appearing, but it may be necessary to change the generation, because people still have a ‘strong school’, if we can call it that.” He also pointed to two technical driving errors that occur in most drivers: firstly, the inability to brake extremely hard if necessary, which in many situations can save or reduce the amount of a collision because the speed is lower at the time of the collision; secondly, the desire to turn the steering wheel all the way, although in reality, the less the steering wheel is turned, the easier it is to control the car. “If the car doesn’t listen when you turn the steering wheel a little, so we drive too fast, turning the steering wheel further doesn’t solve it.”
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PHOTO: Andrejs Terentjevs
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The overall statistics show that the situation is really improving – in Latvia in all parameters – fatalities, injuries and accidents as such – there is a significant decrease. “The number of fatalities has decreased by 12.3% compared to last year,” says Andris Locs, Deputy Head of the Traffic Monitoring and Coordination Bureau of the State Police. “Unfortunately, the specific situation of drunk driving does not change from year to year – an average of 3,500 drivers are drunk on an annual basis, and they are, of course, only caught, not counting motorcyclists and cyclists,” says Locs. He also points out that the most worrying thing is that the vast majority of such “caught” drivers are severely intoxicated, ie the alcohol concentration in the body exceeds 1.5 per mille.
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Motorcyclist Nikita Lijcs also shared his experience, who considers himself a responsible driver, admitting that sometimes in a hurry he tends to exceed the allowed speed, but has never sat behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol.
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“Alcohol and driving are not compatible things. While sitting behind the wheel, you should be able to concentrate 100%, but under the influence of alcohol this is not possible. Even the most talented and experienced drivers will not be able to react quickly enough when necessary under the influence, ”admits N. Lijcs. For those who like to drive even faster, the motorcyclist recommends using various official opportunities, such as the Bikernieki track days. “It is better to pay and enjoy speed legally and safely than to endanger yourself, others and pay many times more expensive – financially or even with life,” says N. Lijcs.
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