Have you ever seen a highway sign that has some sort of statistic about drinking and driving that is meant to convince you not to do just that? Driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated is one of the deadliest actions one can make. There are many statistics as well as stories that one can interpret as a warning to not drink and drive. “Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a major public health concern” (Barry, et al.). To be able to drive safely and make the right decisions about the constantly changing environment, one must abstain from the consumption of alcohol, which impairs the decision making process. Drinking and driving comes with many violations including “monetary fines, jail time, and license suspension”
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“Male drivers, particularly those ages 22 to 45; people with drinking problems and prior drinking and driving convictions; and drivers who do not wear safety belts are disproportionately likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes” (Hingson and Winter). Most disturbing, in 2002, 573 children were killed in crashes where alcohol was a factor. “In the late 1980's, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Ad Council developed public service announcements that used the phrase friends don't let friends drive drunk” (Glascoff, et al.). This campaign led to having designated drivers, which have probably saved nearly 50,000 lives thus far, but the designated driver is not always driving sober. The designated driver is often selected to be the person who has had the least amount of alcohol. Nora J. Pasman-Green, in a journal, says that sometimes when someone is convicted of drunk driving, they are required to have an alcohol ignition interlock device (AIID) which monitors blood alcohol content and prevents you from turning the key if you are drunk. This is an exceptional idea, but many believe that installing this device on all cars goes beyond their rights. In an interview of D.O. “Spike” Helmick, a retired Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, he says, “investing resources in impaired driving prevention and occupant protection will save far more lives than many other areas of
“Male drivers, particularly those ages 22 to 45; people with drinking problems and prior drinking and driving convictions; and drivers who do not wear safety belts are disproportionately likely to be involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes” (Hingson and Winter). Most disturbing, in 2002, 573 children were killed in crashes where alcohol was a factor. “In the late 1980's, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Ad Council developed public service announcements that used the phrase friends don't let friends drive drunk” (Glascoff, et al.). This campaign led to having designated drivers, which have probably saved nearly 50,000 lives thus far, but the designated driver is not always driving sober. The designated driver is often selected to be the person who has had the least amount of alcohol. Nora J. Pasman-Green, in a journal, says that sometimes when someone is convicted of drunk driving, they are required to have an alcohol ignition interlock device (AIID) which monitors blood alcohol content and prevents you from turning the key if you are drunk. This is an exceptional idea, but many believe that installing this device on all cars goes beyond their rights. In an interview of D.O. “Spike” Helmick, a retired Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, he says, “investing resources in impaired driving prevention and occupant protection will save far more lives than many other areas of