The Department of Probation yesterday officially launched a program for 100 drunk drivers to clean hospital morgues in order to remind them of the consequences of their irresponsible driving that could be danger to lives of others sharing the same roads.
The first official trial of the program was made at Taksin Hospital.
The program was aimed to change motorist’s attitudes towards drink driving.
Cleaning hospital morgues is serve as a penalty under a new program to address the problem raised by driving while under the influence of alcohol.
It is hoped that the program, will raise their awareness to the hurt and loss that are the consequence of irresponsible driving.
Besides cleaning morgues, drunk drivers are also required to personally experience the atmosphere in the hospital’s emergency room which is another potent reminder for them to reconsider their actions and adopt a more socially responsible attitude.
The program was formulated from a joint effort between the relevant government departments such as the Department of Public Health. The general consensus is that a spell at morgues, however briefly, will be a more effective deterrent than the regular punishments.
The officials involved feel that no socially responsible human being will fail to be moved by such a direct and painful experience as to see a fellow human being injured and hurt which will improve the chances of them repenting.
All drivers arrested for drunk driving and sentenced by the courts to perform civic duties will now have to undergo similar experiences under the new program.
Deputy director-general of the Department of Probations Mr Prasarn Mahalitrakun said in the past, drunk drivers were ordered to clean up streets, traffic signs and the light.
But he said what was found was that most do not repent as most feel that it is only a punishment that must be endured.
So this year the department came up with the idea and testing it to see what would be different.
“We want to see what would happen to them now that they are directly shown the human consequence of their actions,” he said.
According to the Road Safety Centre, the past ‘7 deadly days’ during the Thai New Year holidays of Songkran revealed that there were 5,228 reported cases of drunk driving which is a staggering 29% increase over the previous year.
The program is hoped to bring down the figures of drunk drivers.
