Riders urge tougher drink-driving laws

About 100 motorcyclists held a protest against drink-driving yesterday, saying it has taken the lives of innocent people, including one of their friends - who is survived by his pregnant wife and a three-year-old child.

Wearing black ribbons, the bikers gathered at a car park at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. From there, a dozen rode to the Central Government Offices while the rest headed to Central pier.

They called on the government to increase penalties against drink-driving offenders, to strengthen the deterrent effect of the law, and to suspend offenders' licences.

'Drink-driving has not only taken lives, it also has a bad effect on others, such as the families of these innocent people. I appeal to all drivers not to drive after they have consumed alcohol,' Eagle Luk Hew, whose husband was killed by a drink-driver on July 5 on the Island Eastern Corridor, said at the protest.

Not only does Mrs Hew have to prepare for the birth of her second child, she also has to care for her three-year-old son without her husband.

'My son keeps asking me where his papa is. I told him what happened, but he doesn't seem to understand,' she said.

'My mother-in-law and I can only rely on each other for support. We hope that our application for a subsidised housing unit can be approved soon, as we want to save money instead of renting an apartment, which costs about HK$5,000 a month,' Mrs Hew said.

She has also sought the help of psychiatrists.

One protester, Meiki Tse, said drivers caught drink-driving should not be allowed to drive.

'At present, drivers who are arrested by police officers can still drive. We think this is very dangerous, as the drivers might get drunk and drive again the next day. It is very dangerous to road users. We cannot wait till the court has delivered a judgment to stop them driving. We should stop them at once,' she said.

Another protester, Lam Siu-kai, said the punishment for drink-driving offenders was not enough. 'They are usually given a jail term of one or two months. We think the driving licences of these drivers should be suspended permanently and jail sentences should be longer,' he said.