Chile worries over drunk driving
Chilean drivers don't seem to have gotten the message not to drink and drive.
Fifty percent of drivers tested under a program to combat drunk driving were either driving under the influence of alcohol or legally drunk, reports the Santiago Times.
The program, run by the National Service for Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation, randomly gives breathalyzer tests to drivers.
If drivers are found to have been drinking, they are given a follow-up blood test.
In the first month of the program, 1,480 tests were administered in the capital Santiago on weekends.
“This report confirms our fears and is highly worrisome because it puts the general public at a high risk when traveling at dawn," said Francisca Florenzano, director of the national alcohol service, reports the Santiago Times.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.