WINDHOEK – It is no secret that independence weekend is a dangerous time to be out on the streets. Even with an increase in law enforcement presence party goers would get behind the wheel after drinking.
The Namibian Police last week issued a stern warning to Namibians to behave this coming weekend, as they are celebrating the 25th Independence Anniversary. This warning is to be taken serious, especially by motor vehicle owners and drivers.
The celebrations will without any doubt have booze in overflow this weekend. Therefore, the best way to stay alive and safe on Independence weekend is to have a game plan, ahead of time. Do not wait until you are drinking at the party to try to find a ride home. Make a plan, and stick to it.
Do not be afraid to call a taxi if a ride falls through though. The most important thing is that you get home safe, and you do not endanger anybody else on the roads.
The Police will be out in full force too, so in addition to keeping our streets safe, you can also avoid a costly trip to jail.
If you plan on drinking, designate a driver. Make a game plan that includes a sober driver, before the big party. Get a friend that will be sober this coming weekend to be the designated driver.
If all fails and your designated driver does not show up, do not drive if you have taken one too many. Have a backup plan. It is best you stay away from the temptation of driving. Crash on a couch and rest and sober up. You can always drive home the next day.
If that does not sound appealing, still the advice is the same, don’t drive while drunk, take a taxi home. Namibia has a variety of taxis that could bring you home. Call a radio taxi to drop you home or alternatively take the public transport taxi and you will still reach home safely.
Do not rely on sobering-up tricks. ‘Sobering up’ tricks do not work. Drinking five pots of coffee and taking a frigid shower will have no impact on the level of alcohol in your body. It will just make you cold and need to visit a bathroom more regularly. Time is the only way to get the alcohol out of your system and you could still be over the legal limit many hours after drinking.
Woema would also like to encourage those that are organizing parties to become responsible citizens. If you’re hosting a party, make sure everybody has a safe ride home. Get someone to drive your guests home or arrange a taxi to transport your guests home. Their safety is in your hands.
Ensure that enough food is available for your guests and don’t allow them to drink on empty stomachs. Be the good bartender and stop supplying liquor when you notice that your guests are over the limit. Supply them with water instead to help them sober up. Very importantly, take away their car keys, if you have to and when you notice that they are becoming too high.
However, when you notice that someone is drunk and is refusing to hand over his car keys and want to drive home drunk, here is some good advice to follow. Be as non-confrontational as possible.
If it is a close friend, try to use a soft, calm approach. Suggest to them privately that they’ve had too much to drink and it would be better if someone else drove them home or if they took a cab or other transportation.
Locate their keys while they’re preoccupied and take them away. They will probably think they’ve lost them and will be forced to accept another mode of transportation.
If it’s someone you don’t know well, speak to their friends and have them make an attempt to persuade them to hand over the keys.
If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational.
Enlist a friend to help you or to act as moral support, it’s more difficult to say “no” to two (or three or four) people than one. If possible, get the person’s keys. It is far easier to persuade the potential driver when you hold this leverage.