ADDRESSING THE DANGERS OF CAR POSSESSION BY STUDENTS

Possession of certain things like cars, power, and money can either serve as a blessing or as a dangerous tool, depending on the one in possession of it. It is not a breach of the law for students to own and drive their cars within and around the school campus but when this privilege is abused, it becomes a problem. 

In recent times, over-speeding within the campus has become an issue. The campus is expected to be a safe zone but the recent actions of student drivers at the wheel especially at night, bring doubts to that expectation or otherwise, assertion.

So students having privately owned cars; is it a blessing or a dangerous tool in disguise?

Some weeks back, two young ladies were on their way back from Awba dam and there was this sleek jeep approaching a junction around that area which raced through the junction at a top speed and stopped. The girls compared the speed to that seen in the Fast and Furious movies. One of them said;

“The car was coming toward us and then stopped for a bit. The next thing we saw was that he suddenly raced at a very high speed; that kind of speed you see in Fast and Furious, I was so scared.” 

The driver turned out to be a young chap and was seen laughing maniacally. As if enjoying the thrill, he proceeded to repeat the action but thanks to an elderly staff member who saw him and berated him. 

It is not far from accurate to suspect that many of these reckless driving acts are made under the influence of alcohol and drugs. This makes the car possession of students a hazard despite its numerous benefits. 

Students often go to parties, get drunk and high, and still drive their rides within the campus. Driving under the influence of alcohol or hard drugs is a traffic offence but how can this be monitored within the school environment? Strategies should be put in place by the traffic and security unit of the campus to ensure that students do not continue to drive under the influence of these substances to avoid accidents, loss of lives, and other dangers associated with driving and drinking.

It is important to emphasize that it is not wrong to own or drive a car on campus but the drivers must abide by the laid down rules and regulations for safety. This must be addressed quickly before casualties begin to be recorded. 

Finally, a tip for those who use the walkways: always face oncoming vehicles. Do not turn your back on moving vehicles, it is wrong.