The way the New Year should start is
on a positive note. The Costa Levante
News has done just that in their report on deaths on Valencia’s network of
roadways between 8pm New Year’s Eve and 8am New Year’s Day. This is perhaps the
period of highest risk when the roads are potentially full with drivers who
have been celebrating in the traditional manner with cava and heavy meals in
welcoming in the New Year.
Town Councils and governments are
doing their part to try and keep us safe from ourselves. Common sense seems to
go out the window when everybody is in such high spirits. The free and extended
public transport provided helps to cut the risk down tremendously, if only
members of the public take advantage. The other thing we can do is to appoint a
responsible member of the family as the designated driver who has the responsibility
to avoid alcohol or drugs so that we have a good chance of surviving the night.
It was reported that only three
people failed to live out the first day of 2018. That is so sad but, as a trend
the number of people who fall into this category is growing less by the year.
That is super positive.
From the time I began to notice the
statistics regarding deaths on Spain’s roads the number of people killed while
simply trying to get from A to B was horribly unacceptable. Much had to do with
driving while under the influence as many people were virtually drunk all the
time. They just could not get the message that if you continue to do this you
will die. Then came in the points system and somehow that message struck home.
If you were caught driving while drunk you would lose all your points and
effectively you would never drive again.
Since then the carnage has lessened
every year although apparently this year overall there appears to have been a
4% rise. However, the news from Valencia is that for the first time less than
100 people have lost their lives during the entire year. Well, the number is 99
but I will take it, especially when at one time it was 300.
We can all take pride and pleasure in
these positive figures because it means we are all driving with safety in mind
which means that the life I save maybe yours. We should congratulate ourselves
with a pat on our own backs, and it would be a good thing to keep up the good
work.
Here’s looking ahead to 2019 at this
time and a much improved report. Happy Driving everyone!
Copyright © 2018
Eugene Carmichael
