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Why does the problem of drunk driving persist?

Some 60 people were killed and 759 people were injured in road traffic accidents in September, with most accidents caused by drunk driving and speeding, according to the police. Given the never-ending reports of fatal accidents and dangerous driving, Vientiane Times asked around for people’s thoughts on this chronic and troublesome problem.
 
Mr Tik panyavong, a company employee in Vientiane: I’d like to ask everyone if they are afraid of conviction when driving under the influence of alcohol. I feel sure they are not because no one in Laos is ever penalised for drunk driving and it seems the law is completely ineffective in this regard. I have been stopped by traffic police many times and fined on numerous occasions but I have never been stopped for drinking and driving. I’ve never been given an alcohol breath check, but I do know that it’s wrong to drink and drive.
 
Ms Tingkeo Jounmany, a resident of Vientiane: This is something that needs to be taken seriously, as there are too many drunk drivers on our roads and they act with impunity. It would be easy for the police to set up checkpoints on roads after 8pm and penalise people for drunk driving. I don’t think anyone considers taking a taxi or tuk-tuk after they have been drinking, and I certainly haven’t. The police could easily stop people from driving if they were stationed outside places of entertainment at night, where they would find hundreds of people who were not fit to drive.
 
Mr Pouy Lertvongsak, company employee in Vientiane: This is a really big problem in Laos. Drivers simply don’t care about drinking and driving. It’s accepted that everyone can drink as much as they like and then get in their car or on their motorbike. No one fears being penalised for this and I’ve never heard of anyone being prosecuted in court for drunk driving. When I went to Europe I never drove after drinking even just one glass of beer because I knew I would be in trouble if the police stopped me. In Laos I’ve been stopped by the police many times after I’ve been drinking but all they’re interested in are my vehicle documents and driving licence. I admit that I frequently drink and drive, but I know that it’s wrong.
 
Ms Souksun, a company employee in Vientiane province: I’m really afraid to drive at night because many drunk drivers drive too fast and some weave around on the road because they’re out of control. I think they know they are drunk, but they still drive. It’s very dangerous, both for them and for other people. I often hear that driving while drunk is wrong and is punishable under the law, but nobody cares and the traffic police never convict anyone for this offence. I urge the government to take serious action to change things.
 
Ms Vilay Soukphahuk, a resident of Vientiane: Sometimes I get very upset when I go somewhere with my friends and they drink a lot and then drive me home. I’m always worried that we might have an accident but it’s difficult because my friends all like to drink a lot and I can’t drive. People don’t seem to put any limit on their drinking and always encourage their friends to drink more. Good friends shouldn’t do this because we should care about each other’s safety on the way home.
 

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 17, 2022)