Simon Mwangi 

It is that time of the year when merrymaking hits an all-time high, especially coming from a tumultuous one where travel restrictions and dusk-to-dawn curfews inhibited partying. 

At this time, drunk driving is among the major causes of deaths on Kenyan roads.

A survey by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) revealed there was an increase of 25 per cent in road fatalities as at September 20, 2021.

Drunk driving, drunk walking, drunk riding, reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, failure to use helmets, among other issues, have been cited for increase in these crashes.

According to section 44 (1) of the Traffic Act, anyone who when attempting to drive or driving, when in charge of a car on a road or a public place, is found to be under the influence of drugs or drink to the extent that they do not have proper control of the car, shall be charged with an offense and liable to pay a fine that is not less than Sh100,000 or face imprisonment for two years or be subject to both penalties.

In case it is established that you are a repeat offender, you will fined large amounts and you could lose your license permanently.

Blood alcohol levels are used to determine whether a motorist is drunk. In Kenya, according to the Traffic Act, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for operating a vehicle is 0.35 grams per litre of breath or 0.8 grams per liter of blood.

The main tests used to determine whether a driver is drunk in Kenya are breathalyzer tests and urine tests.

Drunk driving accidents account for a large percentage of fatalities and serious accidents on the Kenyan roads.

If you are convicted of drunk driving, your auto insurance rates will drastically increase because your insurance provider will look at you as a risky driver.

Secondly, if you’ve been caught driving drunk once, you will be seen as someone who is likely to do it again.

This is a significant liability for any insurance company. To counteract the cost of possible future accidents while under the influence, insurance companies charge significantly higher premiums.

Each insurance company has its own rule to handle this offense. 

Even if you think that changing the insurance provider will save you from paying higher premiums, your offense will show up on your profile record.

And, your car insurance is definitely going to be priced accordingly.

When you are planning to drink, make sure that the one who is going to drive is not drinking.

If you have a driver, taking him along will be a good idea. You can also prefer to hire a taxi for an evening.

A strict “NO” to driving if you are drunk. — The writer is the manager corporate communications-NACADA