The Consequences of Drinking and Driving

The growing awareness of alcohol hazards has made people more cautious of their drinking habits, particularly young adults. At present young adults have the highest prevalence of alcohol consumption than any other age group. They also drink more heavily, experience more negative consequences, and engage in more harmful activities, specifically drunk driving. Although surveys have documented a decline in recent years, consumption rates remain highest from late teen years to the late twenties (Johnston1-3). Despite the long-term decline since 1982 in alcohol related traffic deaths, a 4 percent increase occurred between 1994 and 1995 among young adults age 21 and over (Hingson 4). As alcohol-impaired driving persists, legal and community initiatives intervene to help reduce the problem, as well as, continuing research on possible solutions.

Around 10,000 people die in Drunk driving accidents, while 200,000 are injured every year. That is about 28 people every day, put that in perspective? There are several other statistics just like these that people in the world are unaware of. Drinking irresponsibly is dangerous as it is, and if you add driving with it, that makes it worse. The society is unknowledgeable about how drunk driving affects mostly teenagers, how dangerous it is, and the long term effects.

Every day in the United States, 28 people die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. That is one death every 51 minutes.(“Impaired Driving: Get the Facts”) Drunk driving has taken too many lives, and this problem is continuously growing. A death caused by drunk driving not only affects the victim, but also the families and friends of the victim. It only takes one night, one drink, and one decision for drunk driving to cause its life changing damage. There are many solutions to prevent drunk driving, but they will only work if they are strictly enforced.

Drunk driving has become a serious social problem and more needs to be done to stop it. Even though there are laws against drinking and driving people still do it. Countless people are not aware of the dangers

“Just one more” is a phrase many use when going out for drinks with buddies or celebrating something special during life. Until recently, drunk driving was an undermining crime that went unnoticed to everyone that was not affected by the consequences and tragedies that come with it. Estimates of statistics show, “In the United States rates of alcohol-related traffic fatalities dropped from 60% in 1982 to 32% in 2006. Recent findings, however, indicate drunk driving continues to be a significant problem” (Gieck). Although the rates of alcohol-related crashes have decreased, these numbers still have room to drop. Every life that is lost, every casualty that is caused, and every dollar that is spent can be prevented. Drunk driving is a choice that someone makes, it is one hundred percent avoidable. The actions of those who get behind the wheel drunk are the guilty partner in the situation. Individuals that consume alcohol irresponsibly and at times where it may risk the lives of others need to take responsibility for their actions and think of the innocent drivers and victims that they share the road with. Sadly, statistics show the band of youth involved in the epidemic. In spite of progress made, “College students and young adults represent a population that is at increased risk for alcohol-related traffic fatalities due to re emitting rates of heavy episodic drinking” (Gieck). Government needs to take the initiative and limit the bar activity later at night, implement consequences of those who are repeat offenders and get programs out there that will educate those ignorant about drunk driving and alcohol related fatalities.

Effects of Drinking and Driving Effects of Drinking and Driving I’ve never seen drinking and driving on a daily planner or heard anyone say I think I’ll get a DUI today. I have heard people say “it’s my life, and if I want to drink and drive I will”. Well, it’s not just your life that is affected by the results of drinking and driving. When you make that choice to drink and drive you are taking the lives of family, friends, and strangers into your hands. You don’t have to get into an accident and kill somebody for the results to destroy you or someone else’s life.

In 1995, in the United States 67% of all the population over the age of 12 reported drinking alcohol with in the previous year. Even more astounding, is the fact that nearly 50% reported drinking some type of alcoholic beverage with in the past month. Scientists report that the reason alcohol is so popular to drinkers is because it is pleasant, relaxing, and is considered a "social beverage." But what the drinkers often do not take in to consideration are the facts that alcohol dulls the brain and confuses physical reactions. This leads to numerous injuries, accidents, and death. Roughly 1.3 million people are arrested for driving drunk each year. As a result of the drunk drivers, 25,000 deaths occur each year in America. More 16 to 24 year olds are killed as a result of drunk driving or are involved in accidents where someone is driving drunk than any other age group in the nation.

Why does one choose to get in the car while they are under the influence? They are signing a contract that puts their life in danger as well as the rest of society. Drunk driving is a major problem in our world today. It is affecting many individuals daily life because of their fear of getting anywhere near these individuals making such poor decisions. According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control, “in 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States”(Impaired Driving: Get the Facts). An achievable solution to this major problem is that all cars should have a breathalyzer test in order to start the car so drunk driving fatalities

I think that it is agreed by all parties that the prodigious number of sober drivers in our neighborhoods, city streets, and country roads is at present deplorable to the state of our great nation. Currently, a whopping ninety-eight percent of Americans of driving age feel threatened by those who drive under the influence of alcohol, which means that only two percent of Americans are able to fully relax and enjoy themselves while on the road, and with the growing awareness, this number could be on the rise (MADD Online: General Statistics 1). What a travesty! All drivers, and passengers alike, should be put at the same risk for danger, be it damage, injury, or death.

As you can see, drunk driving can cause many tragedies on a family or just the nation in general. Many people think that if we lower the Body Alcohol Content than there wouldn’t be as many people getting injured or killed a year. The question “Should tougher DUI laws be enacted?” is yet to be answered, but maybe in there next few years we will get an