Easing of drink driving laws won’t deter suicide

YOUR recent editorial (Jan 28) rightly sounds alarm at the escalation in suicide rates in rural areas.

Suicide is a devastating phenomenon that cuts to the heart of families and communities and leaves scars that never heal. However, your suggestion to ease drink driving laws so as to address rural isolation is a step too far. There is a proven link between drink driving and road deaths. Alcohol in itself is a depressant, and in my experience as a practising emergency physician, many rural (and urban) suicides are related to alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse.

Let’s not oversimplify this deadly serious issue by implying that relaxing drink driving laws in rural areas will address the tragedy of suicide — it won’t, but it will inevitably lead to more alcohol related road deaths, deaths that are no less tragic.