Teen Drinking and Driving

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Now-a-days teens watch TV and believe anything they see on television. “Professional Athletes don’t cause more DUI Fatalities than other American—they just make more headlines (Lake, 2013) EBSCOHOST). So seeing someone famous drinking and then hoping in the car under the influence and beganing to drive with no worries, teens think it is okay. Excuses and false assurance are major reasons teens believe they can drink. People believe they will not get caught and that they have complete control of any situation while under the influence. They say that a few drinks will not hurt them and they will be fine, were they are going is not that far; they all just think of something to convince people that they will be okay, when in reality they are not. To really understand why drinking and driving is so dangerous; one must learn how alcohol affects the body, brain and driving ability. Alcohol affects males and females differently. According to the article it states “In general, older men are more likely to drink alcohol compared with older women. But women of all ages are often more sensitive than men to the effects of alcohol. Women's bodies tend to break alcohol down more slowly. Also, women have less water in their bodies than men, so alcohol becomes more concentrated. As a result, women may become more impaired than men after drinking the same amount. That is why the recommended drinking limit for women is lower than for men” (NIH Senior Health, 2012). “Statistics show that “Once alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream, it works to slow the functioning of the central nervous system” (Mendralla & Grosshandler, 2012). It states that “A drink of alcohol stays in the body for about 2 hours after being consumed” (NIH Senior Health, 20... ... middle of paper ... ... Traffic Offender Program, pay a $45 reinstatement fee, and provide SR-22 proof of insurance for two years. The conviction will not be erased from your driving record” (DUI & DWI in Missouri) Through the entire process citizens are entitled to basic Miranda Rights. Citizens have the right to an attorney when they are stopped for a DUI investigation. It says “Most people don’t realize that they have the option, that they have the right. They also tend to disregard that, despite being told by the officer when they read Miranda rights, that they a right to remain silent. Anything they can say will be used against them in a court of law” (Law office of Brian Douglas Sloan). Many people believe that drunk driving is a big deal and many think that it’s a personal choice in what people choice to do with their lives and if it endangers them or someone then it’s on them.

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