With New Year's Eve right round the corner, many will have made plans to meet friends and celebrate, but the importance of not drinking and driving can never be stressed enough.
Each year Malta launches a 'don't drink and drive' campaign before the festive season, reminding revellers to be extra careful and to never drive if they plan on drinking.
Speaking with The Malta Independent, Inspector in charge of the traffic section within the police force Sergio Pisani explains that besides ensuring road safety, one of the section's main tasks is to assist traffic flow. In the run-up to New Year's Eve, he says, the police have been trying to promote the use of public transport, taxis or other organised transport. "That way, people won't have problems with parking; they can have a drink and enjoy themselves; and, once done, they'll be taken back home safe and sound."
"While having an accident and waking up to a wrecked vehicle is bad enough, it's certainly not the biggest problem one might face. The worst possible scenario would be injuring yourself or others. I don't think people quite understand the heartache they create when such incidents occur."
The run-up to New Year's Eve sees police officers in this branch prepare for one of the busiest nights of the year. The section is based at the police garage in Floriana, and the lack of available space at the facility - as a result of already-impounded vehicles - is noticeable
The main aim of traffic section police officers is to reduce injuries and fatalities on the road, Inspector Sergio Pisani says, adding that a great deal of preparation goes into every New Year's Eve, in order to ensure that the roads are as safe as possible for citizens. This includes having a list of the New Year's Eve parties on hand to help identify possible hotspots; keeping officers informed about bus routes and schedules to inform who might enquire, and so on.
Nowadays, the inspector says, the police employ the use of rolling traffic stops rather than pre-planned fixed points. For instance, a point might be set up in Naxxar for a period of time before officers change their location.
If fixed points were used all the time, people driving under the influence of alcohol would just take a different route, but rolling traffic stops allow the police to better monitor those who may pose a danger.
He also mentions that the police use other tactics to try and stop people who should not be driving or who otherwise fail to abide by the law, but notes that the police only stop people if there is reasonable suspicion that that the person is doing something considered unsafe. "If we have reasonable suspicion that something is wrong, we will stop you. Over Christmas we stopped 755 vehicles. Proudly, only one-seventh were in fact doing something wrong (ranging from not wearing a seatbelt, to driving without a licence), as the others were in order, despite our suspicions."
This is an indication that educational campaigns, such as those at schools and in the media, are helping to improve the situation.
Inspector Pisani believes that children are the best enforcers, as they call it as it is, telling their parents to slow down, buckle up or not to use their phone. He mentioned that there are a number of programmes to teach children about road safety from a young age.
He stresses that New Year's Eve is considerably busier than Christmas for the traffic section. "We would not only be stationed in Paceville. For example, over Christmas, we had traffic stops in Burmarrad, Floriana, Valletta, Żejtun, Pembroke, St Julian's, Mosta, Naxxar, Paola, Salini and other locations."
Turning to road safety in general, the inspector explains that one of the major killers on the road is distraction. "Using a mobile phone is just one distraction. How often do we go to a supermarket, place a bag on the front seat and constantly worry about it falling over? Even how we pack groceries into a car can distract us. Just looking at the time on a handheld device takes three seconds. Driving at 35km/h, that's the equivalent of 15 metres. Can someone cross in front of you in 15 metres?"
"Today, cars are filled with technology, and we have a lot of distractions while on the road. Even a passenger can be a distraction to the driver if they are drawing attention away from the road," he warns.
Turning to driving under the influence of illegal substances, he says that currently, if there is reasonable suspicion that someone is under such influence, the police can stop the driver and take the person to a medical practitioner for a urine or blood sample. He said that officers are trained to look for certain indications. Various options regarding the introduction of portable drug tests are also being discussed.
Turning back to New Year's Eve, the police hope to improve on last year's excellent results, Inspector Pisani says, mentioning the praise the force received from the Road Safety Council following last year's Christmas season. The police will use their resources in the best way possible, and and they appeal to the public to inform them of any issues such as road blockages so that better assistance can be provided.
"Our message is for drivers to exercise discipline, attention and seriousness, in order to reduce fatalities and injuries. Education is important, as we know it will lead to more discipline and attention on the road."
The inspector urges people to cooperate with the police over New Year's, and says that the police are there to assist people with any issues they may have. He also warns that the police will not desist from stopping suspicious vehicles in order to ensure the safety of others and of the driver as well. He stressed that traffic stops do not only occur over the holiday period, but all year round as well.
Asked what his main concerns about New Year's Eve were, Inspector Pisani spoke about the officers under his responsibility, stressing that they are human beings with families back home, who would be in the hotspots around Malta. He mentioned that two years ago, an officer's leg was broken while trying to stop a vehicle, expressing his hope that there will be no such incidents where drivers, passengers, pedestrians or police officers get hurt this New Year's Eve.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2Cfh68n
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