Health card for drivers
The other day while I was going to WVA Friday clinic, Dhanmondi, I took a CNG auto-rickshaw. The roads were empty and I noticed the CNG driver's rough driving. While talking to him I noticed he was behaving abnormally. I asked him whether he was intoxicated or not, whether he took drugs to which he answered, 'I won't lie to you, you are a doctor, I take alcohol with my friends, but only in the night, so there is no problem now, you can relax Madam'. I asked him whether he smoked Cannabis (Ganja) to which he said, 'Yes, but don't worry, please relax'. I told him about the serious bad effects i.e. that it could lead to death. He replied, “life and death comes from Allah-however, my wife is very good, she tolerates everything.” At that point I wanted to get down from his vehicle-but no other CNG was available.
The ironical truth is that many drivers of buses, trucks, and CNG's are intoxicated. I would request the government to set up medical teams for health check ups of all heavy vehicle drivers and CNG/Taxi Cab drivers. All drug levels are detectable by simple blood tests. Health cards should be given to drivers before they drive and traffic sergeants can regularly monitor these health cards. To a great extent, reckless driving is a result of illiteracy and therefore a minimum level of education should also be made compulsory. An educated and healthy person cannot drive like a lunatic.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments