Dec.25.FRI.

Drinking and Driving

Hiroshima Central Police recently announced the results of a survey into drinking and driving. The survey had been conducted among those caught for these offences during the month of November.

The results make rather depressing reading, for, of the 160 drivers surveyed, 104 said that they had fully intended to drive beforehand. They had not decided to drive on the spur of the moment, but had already planned to drive home after a drinking session. The remaining 56 drivers said that they had decided to drive after starting to drink. To the question why they had decided to drive after drinking, the vast majority thought that they had not drunk enough for their driving skill to be seriously impaired. A few thought they would not be caught, or said that they lived too far away for a taxi or public transport. A majority also said that they had started to drive less than 30 minutes after the drinking session.

The vast majority (115) of those surveyed said they had never been drinking after driving before, but a significant minority (21 drivers) admitted that drinking and driving was a fairly regular habit. To the question whether they would drink and drive in the future, 130 drivers said they would not; 25 said they did not know, but five gave the frank, or honest, answer that they would probably not stop drinking and driving. A police spokesman noted that drinking parties were very common over Christmas and the New Year. He urged drivers to reflect on the consequences of drinking and driving for themselves, their families, and for the victims of the accidents they might cause.

Anti-Nuclear Conference

Even as the US and Britain launched an attack on Iraq, an international conference of disarmament experts opened in Hiroshima. The Second Meeting of the Tokyo Forum for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament was organised jointly by the Japan Institute of International Affairs and the newly-opened Hiroshima Peace Institute. The 2-day conference convened at the International Conference Center in the Peace Memorial Park. The main work of the conference was to discuss viable ways to reduce existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons and to induce nuclear powers to disarm.

The conference was attended by 16 experts from 14 countries, some of whom found time during the conference sessions to pay a visit to the Peace Memorial Museum. Their visit took place in the morning of December 18 and was led by Mr Hataguchi, the Director of the Peace Memorial Museum. The A-bomb exhibits had a profound effect on the conference participants.

What: An exhibition of works by a contemporary sculptor, who was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1946. Nishi specialises in large, bold, creations in stone or metal. The present exhibition features an extensive and representative selection of the whole range of Nishi's styles and materials.

When: 10 - 5, Dec. 5 - Jan. 24.

Where: Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (in Hijiyama Park).

Admission: Adults: \910; Students: \680; Elem. & High Sch. Pupils: \450. (Reductions for parties & advance booking; Closed: Dec 29 - Jan. 3.)

Information: Tel. (082) 264-1121.

「飲酒と運転」

　広島中央署はこのほど、飲酒運転に関する（アンケート）調査の結果を発表した。調査は、11月中に取り締まりを受けた違反者を対象に行われた。

　結果は残念なものとなった。というのも、ドライバー１０６人のうち１０４人は、はじめから飲酒運転をするつもりだったと答えたからだ。彼らは、帰る直前になって運転しようと決めたのではなく、はじめから飲み会のあと運転して帰ることにしていた。残りの５６人は飲みはじめてから決めたという。なぜ飲んだ後運転して帰ることにしたのか、という問いには、そのほとんどの人が、運転に支障が出るほど飲んだとは思っていなかったと答えた。捕まらないと思ったと答える人や、タクシーや公共の交通機関で帰るには家が遠いと答える人もいた。また、ほとんどの人が飲み会後３０分以内に運転していた。

　調査に答えた人の多く（１１５人）は、以前に飲酒運転をしたことはないと答えたが、重大なことに２１人は、飲酒運転がほぼ習慣になっていると答えた。これからも飲酒運転をすると思いますか、との問いには、１３０人の運転手が「しない」、２５人が「分からない」と答えたが、５人は、率直にというか、正直にというか、おそらく飲酒運転はやめないだろうと答えた。警察は「クリスマスや年始にかけて飲み会が頻繁になる。ドライバーは、自分自身のため、家族のため、そして引き起こされるかもしれない事故の犠牲者のために、飲酒運転についてよく考えてほしい」と強く呼び掛けていた。

「反核会議」

　アメリカとイギリス両国のイラク攻撃と時を同じくして、広島では軍縮問題専門家による国際会議が開かれた。「第２回核不拡散・核軍縮に関する東京フォーラム」は、日本国際問題研究所とあたらしくできた広島平和研究所とが共催した。２日間の会議が平和記念公園の国際会議場で開かれた。主な議題として、現存する核兵器を減らす方法や核の（軍事）力を捨てるよう説得する方法が話し合われた。

　この会議には、専門家１６人が１４か国から参加し、会議の合間に平和記念資料館を訪問する参加者もいた。訪問は、平和記念資料館の館長畑口氏の案内により、１２月１８日の午前中に行われた。原爆資料は参加者に深い感銘を与えたようだ。