Drivers are being made to think twice before taking out their cars if they have had a drink too many. The new Road Traffic Act has been voted in Parliament making the sentences for drivers who drink more severe. The minister of Public Infrastructure and Transport seized the opportunity to launch a ?drink or drive? campaign with radio and television spots as well as billboards throughout the island. Likewise, the government asked for the withdrawal of all advertisements for alcohol from billboards and is thinking of asking the driving schools to include the new regulations in their teaching booklets.

The government intend to be intransigent with drivers who drink. The commissioner of police, Ramanooj Gopalsingh, made it clear that the number of serious accidents went up from 218 in 2001 to 295 in 2005. As for the number of accidents linked to alcohol consumption, they numbered 529 between 2004 and June 2006. Moreover the risk for someone who has 100 milligrams of alcohol too many in his blood of having an accident is 300 times higher.

With this in mind, the government means to take action and considerably reduce the number of accidents. So the immediate suspension of driving licences, imprisonment as well as more severe sentences ? higher fines ? are among the measures that the government has implemented with this new act. If the alcohol rate in the blood is higher than the authorised rate, then the driver will have to pay between Rs 10,000 and Rs 25,000 for a first offence and could be subject to imprisonment for up to six months? This is only one example to show the determination of the authorities.