Threat of curfew may chill learners

REARVIEWCAMEROON'S ban on night-time public transport between cities in a bid to address the carnage on the country's notorious roads will cause untold hardship for millions of people.

As cars are an unaffordable luxury to most Cameroonians, huge swathes of the population rely entirely on buses to get around. Many of them will be unable to get around and will lose their livelihoods as a result.

Sadly, many of the fellows that drive said vehicles aren’t exactly model professionals. Indeed, so fond are some of drinking that the government reluctantly imposed the curfew after dark, when the majority of crashing occurs. It seems dreadfully sad that the majority will have to suffer because of the reckless, criminal actions of a few.

That said, we in Ireland are no stranger to this situation.

While our roads are still plagued by the scourge of drunk drivers, our main problem remains young men speeding.

I’m not suggesting all young drivers are hooligans. Nor am I implying that once people reach a certain age, they suddenly become paragons of virtue. Far from it.

But in figures for those involved in serious crashes, there is a disproportionately high number of young motorists. A recent UK study showed one in five new drivers crash within six months of passing their test and young drivers are 10 times more likely to be involved in incidents.

So here’s a suggestion. As part of the legislation for the proposed new “restricted” licences to be held by drivers in the two-year period after they shed their L-plates, why not impose a nocturnal curfew for any one of them who is caught breaking the rules of the road?

Such a threat may cause many of them to throw their toys out of their pram, but it might just save their lives. And yours.