Why more laws might not end road carnage

-Editorial

Just how many laws will get Kenyans to stop drinking and driving? Through the Alcoholic Drinks Control Amendment Bill 2014, the Senate has now proposed to impose tougher fines on motorists caught drink-driving. While government efforts at controlling the carnage on our roads must be supported, the introduction of stringent measures as proposed by the Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki could eventually prove to be counter-productive.

First, we should not lose sight of the fact that drunk-driving is only one of the major causes of accidents.

Secondly, the new proposal borders on the ridiculous. If it is adopted, pedestrians will be stopped at the discretion of police officers and the Alcoblow test administred.

Does the police service have the capacity for this other duty?

And given our policemen’s penchant for kitu kidogo, allowing Alcoblow on pedestrians could open up more avenues for corruption as the officers harass citizens found to have imbibed alcohol.

What will happen to personal freedom and rights?

And that could go even further to allow some bureaucrats the leeway to embezzle through the need for increased Alcoblow gadgets.

Apparently, Kenyan legislators feel the need to legislate on virtually all aspects of our lives, changing laws every now and then. Implications and consequences are hardly given a thought.

What the politicians eager to legislate all aspects of our lives need to know is that laws and rules will not make much impact where even they themselves bend the rules all too often. What is needed is a change of minds and hearts.

New rules will only attract new ways to cut corners and line the pockets of enforcers of the new rules and laws.