Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI)

“After the Afterparty : A Sober Perspective on

Driving Under the Influence in the Streets of Lipa
City.”

Shot by: Clarence Balane

It isn’t far-fetched to say that alcohol is a universal language. Speaking from a communications major’s
point of view, drinking, be it anywhere in the world, has always been a social activity that fosters
camaraderie in all aspects.

Lipeños are no different. Whether you be the tanggero, the broken marriage vow or the pulutan
aficionado, many of us drink to build bridges and larger circles, or to celebrate the good, the sad, and
everything in between, one never misses an opportunity to go drinking.

Clarence Balane is one who’s had quite a close encounter when the alcohol gets a little too much but
the brakes too little, or not? In conversation with him, we got to dig deeper into what happens when
you drive under the influence of alcohol.

Where were you before the accident happened?

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Clarence: I was out with my cousins drinking before the accident.

When and where did the accident take place?

Clarence: This happened last April 3, 2021 at around 3AM. I was 19 years old at that time. It took place
in Bulacnin, Lipa City.

What led up to the accident? What do you think caused it?

Clarence: Hulas na naman ako. But the speed (120 to 140 km/h) I was going is probably the main
cause of the accident as I was going through a blind curve and suddenly pressed on the brakes too
hard.

How did you survive? Did anyone help?

Clarence: We were fast to get out of the car and we were wearing seatbelts. We just helped each other
get out.

Besides yourself, were there any casualties?

Clarence: Thankfully, there were no casualties in the accident and we all got out okay.

How has the experience impacted you in your decisions today?

Clarence: The experience was very traumatizing and made me think about how reckless I was. So
today, I make decisions very carefully and I drive safely.

TARA, BAREK!

Bars have been becoming a thing again since the pandemic season slowly closes. If you drive by Ayala
Highway at night, flashy signages and loud basses from the bars/bistros would surely catch your
attention.

Lipa’s Ayala Highway is sort of the city’s hotspot. Andre Divinaflor can attest to that, a content creator
for Auto Dreams production. His enthusiasm for cars, speed and content for social media, brought him
to be a regular tambay of the area.

In a conversation with him, we got to know more about the presence and risk of drunk drivers in the
bustling streets of Ayala, especially on a hyped-up night.

How often do you hangout and shoot content at Ayala Highway?

Andre: In a week, siguro 4-5 times, depende if may shoot or sa oras ng meet-up sa client.

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When and where do you usually witness these “drunk drivers”?

Andre: Sa Ayala Highway talaga, kasi doon madaming bars.

Would you say DUI happens often in Lipa? If yes, how do you perceive them?

Andre: Oo, kasi usually yung mga galing sa bar nagdadala ng sasakyan, wala ka na naman
masasakyan masyado paguwi (Public transportation).

Plus most of them humahataw talaga, though may iba naman mabagal lang. Delikado nga lang den
kasi yung iba basta basta na lumiliko at nag u-uturn.

Shot by: Andre Divinaflor

The way home after a solid night is pretty tricky, one must ensure safety not just to his/her passengers,
him/herself included, but of course, the civilians as well. The latter some drivers tend to overlook.

One incident I’ve encountered at my favorite spot in Lipa, Mousehole, a cheese restaurant by day and a
party place at night. It was 2AM, we had our fun, make-ups were smudged, shoes were all dirty from
the dancing.

While waiting for our ride, a metallic screech along with the security guard’s whistle echoed in the
area. Turns out a guy whom we were partying with back inside the club, was driving himself to a
side-swipe accident. This was supposed to be a hit-and-run incident, but thanks to the tight security,
the drunk driver was to pay his dues.

He wasn’t in his right mind and right lane, causing him to scratch the Toyota Fortuner that’s parked by
the side of the road. This I quote from the sit-com How I Met Your Mother, “Nothing good happens after
2AM, because the decisions you make after 2AM are the wrong decisions.”

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YOU’RE NOT SOBER, SOBER

The thing about alcohol is it stays in your blood for up to 6 hours. According to Dr. Alan Carter of
Healthline, the only thing that lowers the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream is time.

So if you think stepping out of the club and getting some fresh air, munching on some pulutan and
sipping on some hot coffee will do the trick, think again.

While the alcohol circulates around your bloodstream, it reduces your driving skills while it's at it.
Compromising your sense of judgment, vision, color distinction, reflexes and reaction time; the
elements you need to drive yourself and drinking buddies home safely, in accordance with the
NHTSA’s article on Alcohol and Driving.

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With our generation being exposed to the highs of parties and booze, it comes as no surprise how such
tragic accidents may take place. Exploring this side of leisure requires smart and careful decisions.

Never let your friends or relatives drive if they have been drinking, you could always: 1.) Take away
their keys, 2.) Plan ahead of time, arrange for a driver who won’t drink, 3.) Call a cab; or 4.) Have them
stay overnight.

The night is young, but we aren't getting any younger. No one wants to encounter an accident like
Clarence, or an after party like the guy who scratched a Fortuner.

As cliché as it sounds, drink responsibly. Is drinking alcohol really the end all be all of forming new
friendships, memorable nights and of having fun?

Take a step back, think of the possible thing to happen when you drive under the influence of alcohol.
All these possibilities are real. They happen to young people and they are still happening at any age.
We have to understand that it's not all fun and games, when one’s safety is at stake.