Richard Linklater’s film, Dazed and Confused, focuses on a group of teenagers who are celebrating their last day of school. The movie follows these high schoolers as they anticipate the coming of summer. The school’s star quarterback, “Pink” Floyd, must decide whether to play football his senior year by signing or not signing an abstinence from alcohol and drug use. The film revolves around this conflict that Floyd is struggling with. However, the incoming freshmen are doing their best to avoid getting hazed by the seniors. There is no certain plot in the film, it just follows the teenagers around as they have a good time. The movie is set in the 70s when teenagers had the freedom to do what they wanted while having easy access to drugs and alcohol. To get a better understanding of what it was like to be a teenager in the 70s, I think looking into the historical context of this time- and their freedom and use of substances such as alcohol and drugs- would better help the audience understand the movie. Looking into the historical context of the 1970s will provide a background on the movie to help better understand why teenagers did what they did.
To start this project, I would first investigate what was going on in the world before the 70s started and what was going on during that decade. I would want to know if any major world events impacted many people, and if so, what were they. Were there any wars going on? If so, was the United States involved in the war? Who was the president during this time? Did he pass any laws or acts? Was the world considered a “safe place?” While I don’t know much about the history of the ’70s, I do know the United States was coming off a win in the Vietnam War. The morale of our country was high. Nixon was president at to start of the ’70s but got involved in the Watergate Scandal, causing him to resign. Nixon created mistrust between the people and the government. It seems likely that people took their problems into their own hands and started to rebel against the standard of life.
I would also want to know more about what teenagers’ lives were like. Based on the movie, it seemed like teenagers could go out and do what they wanted. Why did they have this much freedom? What did they do for fun and where did they go? What music did they listen to? What clothing style did they wear? What were relationships like? Was hazing a big part of high school like it was in Dazed and Confused? What were their family life’s like? Did parents have control of their teenagers or let them run rampant? Teenagers began to experiment with different types of clothing and music. As seen in Dazed in Confused, the teenagers all had a “hippie” vibe to their clothing and music was always playing in the background. Cars were probably the reason for their freedom, being able to drive themselves wherever. Cars were also seen as a place of romance. Why were cars such a large feature of the 70s? The 70’s sense of community was very different from the way it is now. Why has it changed so much? Why did the world seem safer back in the 70s? Did teenagers take school seriously? Did they read books? Were there extracurricular activities for girls? Why did these teenagers have such a large impact on the 70s?
Another aspect of teenage life in the 70s that would be beneficial to this research project would be alcohol and drug use. I could tell this was a large part of teen life in the 70s since in the movie, some teenager was usually smoking a blunt in the scene. The movie also focuses on teenagers partying on their last day of school, which of course includes alcohol along with drugs. Did all teenagers drink and do drugs? Why were drugs so accessible? What was the legal drinking age? Were there any laws or acts passed on drugs? Did parents just allow this behavior to go on? What drugs were being used? Did they smoke marijuana at school? How did teenagers get away with smoking marijuana, was it legal? Why did teens resort to drug and alcohol use? Along with drugs and alcohol, cigarette use was big for teenagers. Why do teenagers smoke cigarettes? Did teenagers smoke them because other teenagers did? The health effects were less known in the 70s and it was very popular to smoke cigarettes. Cigarette use was rampant in the 70s along with drinking and driving. Why did teens think it was okay to do that? Did parents allow their children to do this? Were there less police on the streets? Drunk driving was a huge problem in the 70s and not much was done about it. Was drunk driving considered normal? Although teens had easy access to alcohol since the drinking age was eighteen, I believe drug use was a superior part of the 70s. Even though a Controlled Substance Act was passed in 1970, drug use continued to grow. Discovering the reason for alcohol and drug use among teenagers could give us better insight into who they were and why they were portrayed the way they were in the film.
Finding the answers to these questions about the historical context behind the 70s, the freedom of teenagers, and alcohol and drug use to better understand why teenagers did what they did in the 70s and in Dazed and Confused. It could also help us better understand why “Pink” Floyd was against signing the abstinence sheet from drugs and alcohol for his high school. We might also gain a clearer sense of how the movie engages with the historical context from the 70s.
To finish this research project, I would look at the parent’s side of things in the 70s. the way children are raised influences how they behave as teenagers. Also getting the parent’s view on teenagers in the 70s could provide insight into what teenagers were like. For this project, I would strictly focus on the 1970s and possibly the few years leading to the 70s. It would also be valuable to research what happened after the 1970s and if the same teenage ways were continued into the 80s. Researching the teen life of the 70s would help us better understand Linklater’s way in which he portrayed teenagers in Dazed and Confused.
Richard Linklater’s film, Dazed and Confused, focuses on a group of teenagers who are celebrating their last day of school. The movie follows these high schoolers as they anticipate the coming of summer. The school’s star quarterback, “Pink” Floyd, must decide whether to play football his senior year by signing or not signing an abstinence from alcohol and drug use. The film revolves around this conflict that Floyd is struggling with. However, the incoming freshmen are doing their best to avoid getting hazed by the seniors. There is no certain plot in the film, it just follows the teenagers around as they have a good time. The movie is set in the 70s when teenagers had the freedom to do what they wanted while having easy access to drugs and alcohol. To get a better understanding of what it was like to be a teenager in the 70s, I think looking into the historical context of this time- and their freedom and use of substances such as alcohol and drugs- would better help the audience understand the movie. Looking into the historical context of the 1970s will provide a background on the movie to help better understand why teenagers did what they did.
To start this project, I would first investigate what was going on in the world before the 70s started and what was going on during that decade. I would want to know if any major world events impacted many people, and if so, what were they. Were there any wars going on? If so, was the United States involved in the war? Who was the president during this time? Did he pass any laws or acts? Was the world considered a “safe place?” While I don’t know much about the history of the ’70s, I do know the United States was coming off a win in the Vietnam War. The morale of our country was high. Nixon was president at to start of the ’70s but got involved in the Watergate Scandal, causing him to resign. Nixon created mistrust between the people and the government. It seems likely that people took their problems into their own hands and started to rebel against the standard of life.
I would also want to know more about what teenagers’ lives were like. Based on the movie, it seemed like teenagers could go out and do what they wanted. Why did they have this much freedom? What did they do for fun and where did they go? What music did they listen to? What clothing style did they wear? What were relationships like? Was hazing a big part of high school like it was in Dazed and Confused? What were their family life’s like? Did parents have control of their teenagers or let them run rampant? Teenagers began to experiment with different types of clothing and music. As seen in Dazed in Confused, the teenagers all had a “hippie” vibe to their clothing and music was always playing in the background. Cars were probably the reason for their freedom, being able to drive themselves wherever. Cars were also seen as a place of romance. Why were cars such a large feature of the 70s? The 70’s sense of community was very different from the way it is now. Why has it changed so much? Why did the world seem safer back in the 70s? Did teenagers take school seriously? Did they read books? Were there extracurricular activities for girls? Why did these teenagers have such a large impact on the 70s?
Another aspect of teenage life in the 70s that would be beneficial to this research project would be alcohol and drug use. I could tell this was a large part of teen life in the 70s since in the movie, some teenager was usually smoking a blunt in the scene. The movie also focuses on teenagers partying on their last day of school, which of course includes alcohol along with drugs. Did all teenagers drink and do drugs? Why were drugs so accessible? What was the legal drinking age? Were there any laws or acts passed on drugs? Did parents just allow this behavior to go on? What drugs were being used? Did they smoke marijuana at school? How did teenagers get away with smoking marijuana, was it legal? Why did teens resort to drug and alcohol use? Along with drugs and alcohol, cigarette use was big for teenagers. Why do teenagers smoke cigarettes? Did teenagers smoke them because other teenagers did? The health effects were less known in the 70s and it was very popular to smoke cigarettes. Cigarette use was rampant in the 70s along with drinking and driving. Why did teens think it was okay to do that? Did parents allow their children to do this? Were there less police on the streets? Drunk driving was a huge problem in the 70s and not much was done about it. Was drunk driving considered normal? Although teens had easy access to alcohol since the drinking age was eighteen, I believe drug use was a superior part of the 70s. Even though a Controlled Substance Act was passed in 1970, drug use continued to grow. Discovering the reason for alcohol and drug use among teenagers could give us better insight into who they were and why they were portrayed the way they were in the film.
Finding the answers to these questions about the historical context behind the 70s, the freedom of teenagers, and alcohol and drug use to better understand why teenagers did what they did in the 70s and in Dazed and Confused. It could also help us better understand why “Pink” Floyd was against signing the abstinence sheet from drugs and alcohol for his high school. We might also gain a clearer sense of how the movie engages with the historical context from the 70s.
To finish this research project, I would look at the parent’s side of things in the 70s. the way children are raised influences how they behave as teenagers. Also getting the parent’s view on teenagers in the 70s could provide insight into what teenagers were like. For this project, I would strictly focus on the 1970s and possibly the few years leading to the 70s. It would also be valuable to research what happened after the 1970s and if the same teenage ways were continued into the 80s. Researching the teen life of the 70s would help us better understand Linklater’s way in which he portrayed teenagers in Dazed and Confused.
This paper examines the leading distracters that are encountered while driving. Specifically, it presents the issue of drunk driving and texting while driving to investigate which of the two distracters causes more accidents on the roads. The study aims to explore the consequences of driving while drunk vis-à-vis texting while driving.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a major cause of accidents on the international front, with countries around the world having legislation that is aimed at curbing these occurrences (Galeano par.1; Regan, Lee, and Young 3). Bennett confirms how distracted driving results in significant loss of life on the roads. Driving requires one to be attentive to the road and the conditions around him or her. Some of the recognized forms of distracted driving include texting while driving and driving while drunk.
Bennett (1) states that these two forms of distraction are confirmed to be causes of accidents on the road. Improvements in telecommunication and information technology have led to more mobile device users, with this situation being associated with the rise in accidents that are related to drivers who text while behind the wheel. These improvements have also ensured that texting while driving features as a leading cause of accidents associated with distracted driving. This cause has replaced driving while drunk in the top five causes of accidents (“Top 10 Causes of Car Accidents” par. 4). While both forms of distracted driving can be fatal (Bennett 3), most researchers confirm that texting while driving is increasingly becoming common (Gonzales 1).
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is one of the forms of distracted driving. It has traditionally been associated with the deaths of thousands of drivers and pedestrians (Lerner 10). Lerner (12) states that many victims of accidents that are associated with drunk driving have also ended up with disabilities. Drivers have often engaged in driving after having a drink or two, with this practice affecting their cognition and judgment (Cline 1). Drinking was the most common form of distracted driving that caused many accidents. Authorities around the world have instituted different measures to curb it.
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system. It also distorts the judgment of individuals who engage in it (“National Distracted Driving” par. 6). The reaction time of drunk drivers is said to be lower than that of sober individuals. This class of drivers has the poor judgment of distances (Olson 14). After an accident, drivers may be subjected to these investigations to establish whether they were drunk at the time an accident occurred.
The risks of fatality are high in driving while drunk, with many deaths on the roads being associated with drivers who engage in driving after having taken some alcohol. Green stated that the number of fatalities from drunk driving alone in 2013 was 2,700. Despite this figure is high, it was second to the number of fatalities occurring because of driving while texting. Therefore, drunk driving is a major cause of fatalities on the highways.
Driving while texting
The 21st century has been widely described as the climax of the communication age. The many available communication devices have made the world a global village. The new-age communication devices have created a new social problem where people are addicted to their use even when they are doing other activities (Green 3). Many individuals have adopted the behavior of using these devices elsewhere. Many individuals around the world have Smartphones. In addition to the texting services, Smartphones provide them with extra access to the internet, social sites, and emailing (Wallace 1). The group that is largely engaged in communication using these gadgets is the young population, and mostly the teenagers (Stiles 3).
Drunk driving is increasingly becoming a common observation in all age groups, with the teenage population being the main affected group (Wallace 1). Hanson (1) states that texting while driving is six times more likely to cause accidents while drunk driving is associated with accidents on the road. LaHood (1) also states that the act of texting while driving is increasingly becoming common in the world. Just how does texting while driving cause accidents?
Bennett believes that when an individual is texting while driving, he or she has to take his or her eyes off the road for some time to concentrate on what he or she is saying. The moment that the drivers take their eyes on the road can be decisive, as they can miss a light or fail to observe a hazard on the road. Depending on the speed at which the drivers are moving, the distances that they cover while not looking at the road can be large.
As a result, they can even ram onto another vehicle or object. Such drivers also have to engage their hands when they are texting, with this practice being another contributing factor to the high prevalence of accidents that are associated with texting while driving.
Is driving while texting detectable? Driving under the influence of alcohol is detectable after an accident or at police checkpoints. However, driving while one is sending or receiving messages is hard to detect (Bennett1). Bennett states in the interview that there is no reliable method of investigating whether a person was texting while driving, except if the driver confesses to having done it. This confession usually never occurs. Some of the techniques that have been applied with success in public transport include the use of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) that monitor the activities of drivers (Bennett 1). However, the problem is associated more with private vehicle drivers.
The affected Groups
Different age groups have been affected by the problem of texting while driving. Studies indicate that the group that is affected most is the teenage group (Gonzalez 2). This group constitutes the largest users of mobile devices. It can access different applications on its phones. The group is also increasingly acquiring vehicles, despite the low average driving experience (“43% of Teens Say They Text & Drive” par. 6). Kelley states that over 80% of teenagers report texting while driving.
This observation can reveal the high incidence of accidents that are associated with drivers who text while driving (Hanes 4; “Home | Don’t Drive and Text Organization” par. 3). The teenage population is more affected than any other age group. More teenagers die of road accidents that are associated with texting while driving. Teenagers also report that some of their greatest fears on the road include drivers who text while driving (Jensen 1).
Risk
Texting while driving is associated with significant risks of being involved in a road accident. The latest of the surveys showed that a person is six times at risk of dying in an accident that is associated with driving while texting as compared to driving while drunk (Codey 1). Another survey showed that individuals are likely to be more involved in an accident associated with texting while driving as compared to other people who drink and drive (Hanson 3). The risk of encountering an accident because of driving while a driver is texting was set at 23 times to accidents that are associated with driving while drunk (Neiger 3).
Bennett stated that the findings of a survey done by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concluded that driving while texting is six times more dangerous compared to driving while drunk. The amount of time that the driver takes to text according to this survey is 4.6 seconds. This situation is said to increase the probability of a crash by about 23% (Bennett 1). Drivers who go at higher speeds also increase the risk of an accident. Bennett also states that driving while texting is responsible for more than 16% of all deaths that occur annually because of accidents (“State Farm Insurance Company” 9). Texting while driving has also overtaken driving while drunk as the main cause of accidents on the roads.
Conclusion
Evidence from this study suggests that texting while driving is increasingly becoming more common than driving while drunk with some of the reasons for this situation is given. Driving while drunk is also easily detected as compared to texting while driving. Recent studies also show that teenagers are increasingly texting while driving. There is a need to discourage this behavior. Therefore, the interviewed individuals along with the secondary sources indicate that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk.
Notes
The following are some of the notes extracted from the supplemental sources on the evaluation of drunk driving and texting while driving in an effort of finding out the one that poses more danger. From the primary source, which was the interview on ‘What Do You Think Is More Dangerous, Drunk Driving or Texting’, the following notes were made concerning Bennett’s response.
Both forms of distracted driving are dangerous.
Communicating through the phone while one is steering a car is six-fold more dangerous than driving when one is under influence of alcohol.
Texting while driving involves taking eyes off the road for a significant distance.
Texting while driving is banned in many regions.
Drunk driving is easier to detect because of the physical appearance of the culprits.
Texting while driving is difficult to detect as a cause of an accident unless a confession.
In another supplemental source with an unknown author as retrieved, texting while driving was also considered a leading cause of death. From this source:
Half the surveyed teens texting while driving.
More than 3,000 teens had died because of accidents associated with texting.
Teens claim they can multitask.
Texting while driving is a dangerous activity and may lead to fatality. Many cases of deaths are associated with the vice according to Richard Codey (1) who observes:
Texting while driving is more dangerous than other distractions while driving.
Accidents can lead to disability.
More young people are guilty of texting while driving compared to their older counterparts.
In another personal interview, texting while driving was considered more dangerous. According to Richard Cline,
Texting while driving causes more fatalities after accidents.
Drivers take their eyes off the road while texting.
Just how useful is the telephone in our daily lives? Green (11) observes how,
It advances in technology have made the telephone an indispensable part of our daily lives.
Mobile devices have changed the way we communicate.
Some of the communication devices can be a distraction to our daily activities such as driving.
Driver distraction is the main cause of the accident in most parts of the world, including the United States, as Rachel Galeano reveals in her article Driver Distractions-Don’t Be a Statistic. She reveals that,
Texting is the main distracter while driving.
More drivers are texting while driving.
There are ongoing campaigns to reduce deaths associated with driver distractions.
People should not be part of the statistic.
In another survey on the leading causes of accidents, texting while driving causes more accidents to drunk-driving (Gonzales 1).
More teens are affected by adults.
About 23% of deaths from accidents arise from texting while driving.
Texting while driving is quickly replacing drunk driving as the main distraction causing accidents.
There is a growing trend of teenagers texting while driving.
More than 50% of the teen-class admits to texting while behind the wheel.
Texting while driving causes 3000 deaths annually compared to 2,700 deaths from drunk driving in the teenage population.
In a story in The Christian Science Monitor, there is an increasing trend of texting while driving (Hanes 1).
Distracted driving causes deaths and disabilities.
Movements are advocating for more regulations on distracted driving.
Victims of accidents associated with texting while driving are increasing
Campaigns against texting while driving is a challenge.
More Smartphones are available to teenagers, and hence the new trend.
Most articles have focused on teenagers as the main age group that is affected by texting while driving (Hanson 1).
Most teenage accidents result from distractions while driving.
Texting while driving is increasingly becoming the main cause of accidents among teenagers.
Driving while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while drunk (Hanson 1)
Some organizations have been formed to reduce fatalities that are associated with texting while driving. An example is the Don’t Drive and Text Organization (“Home | Don’t Drive and Text Organization” par. 3). On its website,
It promotes awareness of the dangers associated with texting while driving.
Its goal is to rid the highways of people who text and drive.
It also aims to reduce the number of deaths associated with texting while driving.
Despite teenagers being the group that is most affected by the activity of texting while driving, they also fear people who engage in the same (Jensen 1). According to Jensen,
Most teenage drivers fear other drivers that are engaged in the activity of texting while driving.
Teenagers perceive driving while drunk and texting behind the wheel as a dangerous activity.
However, the teenage group is the most affected in the two distractions, especially sending or receiving messages while driving.
Another study by Kelly found out that a significant proportion of teens text and drive. In this study,
Texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk.
More than 80% of college students send and receive messages while driving.
Texting while driving has led to numerous casualties and fatalities in accidents over the past few years.
In a study by Stiles, teenage drivers are involved in many accidents. Reasons behind this age group being involved in many accidents include:
More teenagers are currently driving.
Teenagers are driving at an early age.
Most of them are not skilled in driving.
Some of the distractions such as texting while driving are prevalent in this age group.
Driving while under the influence of drugs and driving while texting is among the top ten causes of road accidents (“Top 10 Causes of Car Accidents” par. 1). In a study that is similar to the one above, texting while driving was considered more dangerous than driving while drunk (LaHood 1). This study looked at the impact of texting while driving on society as a whole. Some of the relevant findings include:
Both drunk driving and texting while driving are causes of fatalities because of road accidents.
Drunk driving causes fewer accidents compared to texting while driving.
The financial and social implications of texting while driving cannot be ignored.
Many people are disabled because of the activity of texting while driving.
Most of the teen drivers are involved in activities that are deemed a distraction while driving. Many campaigns are trying to reduce these activities (Wallace 1).
Texting while driving is the main reason behind the increased number of accidents in the teenage age group.
Drunk driving is relatively easy to detect and control.
For a long time, drunk driving has been the main cause of accidents on our roads (Lerner 2). The world has gone over a century of drunk driving, with the results being fatal.
Men started driving when drunk shortly after the invention of this form of motorized transport.
Many deaths have resulted from drunk driving.
For over a century, driving under the influence of alcohol has been a cause of accidents, with this situation increasing in the second half of the century (Lerner 2).
The United States government, like most other governments and authorities around the world, has laws against drunk driving and texting while driving (“National Distracted Driving” par. 1).
Distracted driving is the main cause of accidents in the country.
Some of the forms of distracted driving include drunk driving and texting while driving.
Drunk driving has been replaced by texting while driving as the leading cause of distraction that results in accidents in the country
In an explanation of how alcohol works, Christopher Neiger states that texting while driving can cause accidents. He states,
Texting while driving is worse than driving while drunk.
Drivers who send or receive messages take their eyes off the road.
Reaction time increases while one is texting.
In another source by Olson, the perception of drivers and their response time are affected by the different distractions. In this book,
Drunk driving has traditionally been the main distraction resulting in many accidents and fatalities.
Legal action has been taken against drunk drivers.
Texting while driving is more difficult to detect and hence prosecute.
Many drivers are currently texting while driving as compared to other times in history.
Distractions reduce the perception and response time for drivers behind the wheel.
Other researchers described the effects of distractions on driving and the reasons behind the high prevalence of accidents (Regan, Lee, and Young 1). They state that drunk driving is the main universal distracter. However, texting while driving is replacing drunk driving as the main distracter.
There is reduced attention in drivers who text and drive and those that drive while drunk.
On the other hand, drunk drivers have the poor judgment of distances while behind the wheel.
Driving while texting may reduce drivers’ attention on the road
Driving while texting makes drivers focus away from the road, thus reducing their reaction time.
Both distractions may be mitigated through proper public education and screening.
Some of the sources focused on one of the distractions while driving (“State Farm Insurance Company” 1).
Drunk driving causes many fatalities and injuries after accidents.
Most people claiming insurance after an accident have to prove that they were not drunk.
Works Cited
Bennett, John. What Do You Think Is More Dangerous, Drunk Driving or Texting? Personal Interview. Monterey Park, CA: LA County Sheriff Department, 2014. Print.
Cline, Kyle. What Do You Think Is More Dangerous, Drunk Driving or Texting? Personal Interview. Monterey Park, CA: State Farm Insurance Agent, 2014. Print.
LaHood, Ray. Texting While Driving Now a Worse Public Hazard than Drunk Drivers, 2013. Web.
Lerner, Barron. One for the Road: Drunk Driving since 1900. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011: Print.
National Distracted Driving 2012. Web.
Neiger, Christopher. Is Texting while driving really worse than Drunk Driving?” How Stuff Works, 2010. Web.
Olson, Paul. Forensic Aspects of Driver Perception and Response. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Pub., 1996. Print.
Regan, Michael., John Lee, and Kristie Young. Driver Distraction: Theory, Effects, and Mitigation. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis Group, 2009. Print.
“State Farm Insurance Company”. Drinking and Driving a Deadly Combination, 1.1(n.d.): 1-9. Print.
Stiles, Laurette. Driving Through the Eyes of the Teens. The Center for Injury Research and Prevention. Philadelphia: State Farm Insurance Company, 2007. Print.
Modern society has a lot of different problems which affect its place among other specific countries. I believe that a number of accidents because of drunk driving has increased for the recent 50 years. It is impossible to consider the level of importance of the situation as driving drunk people put at risk not only themselves but also those who appear on their way.
Unfortunately, there are countries where the consumption of small doses of alcohol is allowed, still it is impossible to predict how even the smallest dose of alcohol may affect a particular person. I strongly believe that drunk driving is the problem which must be solved, however, the solutions to the problem which have already existed could not eliminate the problem. Neither fines no the fear to appear at prison affects human decision to drive a car being drunk.
Trying to consider the existing situation where drunk driving is involved, it should be remembered that every 30 minutes a person dies because of the involvement into the alcohol-related car crash incident (Drunk Driving Prevention). Such statistics is terrifying as it does not mean that a person who has been drunk is dead, there are a lot of cases when people who just appeared in a close location to a drunk driver are dead.
There are a lot of children who die because of adult irresponsibility. To make the situation clear, I would like to offer several cases with the involvement of drunk driving. On July 12, 2012 a 12-year-old boy was killed and another one was injured as a result of the incident with car driven by a drunk man. Instead of giving help to the injured a man run even faster, however, as a result, he was caught by the police (Elona).
Many adults and children appear in the similar situations when drivers even do not want to assist those whose lives they have spoiled. Moreover, many people being charged with drunk driving after release from jail continue their crimes. Thus, 22 years old Daniel Polites guilty in a death of a Belleville child and charged for it 5 years ago again appears before court. He is charged because of the same drunk driving reason (Marks).
A number of cases where drunk drives are involved are numerous and a number of deaths because of this reason frustrates even more. About 11,000 were killed in 2009 because of drunk driving. Even though the rate of such cases reduced for the past 5 years by 30%, the situation still remains crucial as each 3rd case where people die involves drunk driving (Drinking and Driving; Griffin).
There are a lot of reasons why drunk driving should be one of the first problems which needs solution. First of all, alcohol negatively affects all human decisions, therefore, when people drink and drive cars, they cannot control their actions affectively, therefore, they become the reasons for car incidents which may cause injuries.
Second, drunk driving creates a particular risk for those who are not in the car. Those who drive under the alcohol addiction or those who sit in a car with a drunk driver make their choices intentionally. However, those who appear on the way of drunken drivers do not make such choices. Finally, drunk driving is at the first place among the reasons of human deaths.
These are just several, but however, very important reasons which are to be considered by the government with the purpose to implement some actions. The existing methods of fighting with drunk driving are not very affective as people still continue driving after alcohol consuming.
The first reason to cope with drunken driving is that those who drink cannot react adequately to the surrounding situations. The reaction of those who have not consumed alcohol is fast. People can complete several tasks immediately and they also can react to unpredicted situations fast.
It is very important as being drunk and driving a car people have to follow many specific processes. First of all, the speed limit should be considered. A driver should notice the signs behind the road and make necessary arrangements in accordance with their meaning. Moreover, a driver should follow the road and make sure that there are no people on the way. Almost all of these processes should be completed simultaneously and fast.
Very often a life of a person depends on his/her reaction. When person is not under alcohol affect, he she is able to complete all these processes, however, some people are unable to do it due to the numerous tasks and reactions. The alcohol consumption makes human brain react slower. This is the main reason why alcohol consumption is to be battled. People under alcohol are unable to react appropriately and it may lead to unpredictable and irreversible situations.
Drunk drivers risk their own lives. Driving a car after alcohol consumption people cannot react appropriately to some situations and as a result they appear in a car crash incident. There are many cases when people cannot cope with driving and appear on the sidelines. The car is crashed and a person is lucky if stays alive.
This is the most spread scenario for these cases. There are also situations when a drunken driver has friends with him/her and their deaths may be on his/her consciousness. Drunken people cannot make decisions adequately, therefore, they usually appear in the situations when they sincerely regret about their actions in alcohol addiction.
The situations when people drive cars in a drunken condition and when their friends sit with them are considered as a personal choice. No one makes people act in such a way. However, in most cases the car crash with the drunk drivers involves those who just walk or stay behind the road. People do not have choices in such cases. People do not have an opportunity to react as they are caught by the incident. They walk not far from the road however not on a road.
They do not predict that anyone is going to hit them. This is one of the most devastating reasons why drunken driving must be considered. The inability of solving this problem has lead to the fact that car crashes with drunken drivers involved are the leading reason for human deaths in accidents. Is this not a reason? Drunk driving must be battled as it is one of the most frequent reasons for human deaths.
Even though the government does all possible to prevent drunk driving, it does not cope with the problem. There are a lot of actions which may be done by the state, by the health care professionals, by the employers, and by everyone in the society. The actions the government may implement should enforce 0.08% blood alcohol concentration, increase the number of the sobriety checkpoints, increase the tax on alcohol, and implement a minimum legal age laws.
All these actions are to be applied in the society and there should be a department which should strictly follow the activities implementation. Employers may create punishment for those who have been noticed in the drunk driving. Health promotion may be applied in the workplace. The responsibility of the health care professionals is to deliver to the society the information that car crashes because of drunk driving is the leading reason for death. Professional opinion is usually valued more.
Moreover, everyone may contribute to problem solution by means of the following actions. First, one should never drive after alcohol consumption. Second, it is so easy to follow friends when you are together. Not allowing those to drive drunk is another positive affect. One may speak to the doctors about the affect of drunken driving.
Therefore, it may be concluded that the reasons for solving the problem of drunken driving as the first-hand one are significant. Being the leader among the reasons of human deaths, the problem should be affected from different sides.
People are to be involved into the problem solution as only affecting the issue together may bring some improvements and may help reduce the number of car crashes with the involvement of the drunk drivers is essential. Drunk driving remains the leading reason for human deaths all over the world. It is essential to consider the situation from another point of view and to implement new actions for fighting the issue.
Works Cited
“Drinking and Driving: A Threat to Everyone.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2011. Web.
Teenage drunk driving has been so common these days that according to a report, every year in the U.S. 12.8% of all traffic accidents are due to alcohol and 40% of those accidents are due to teenage drunk drivers. (Alcohol Alert) Alcohol is one of the major causes of highway deaths and injuries, accounting for about half of all annual motor vehicle fatalities. Therefore there is a need to analyze the relationship between drinking and driving and when it comes to teenagers, injuries take the form of fatal accidents. This essay would highlight on all the possible solutions and measures than can be taken in order to avoid teenage drunk driving.
Many solutions to a problem
Teenagers’ awareness
Teenagers must be taught awareness of alcohol-related injury and misuse. While there is no question of the importance of individual differences and personal drinking behaviour, children must be aware of the alcoholic beverages and their social consequences in modern society. (Boyd & Howard, 1995, p. 134) Teenagers must be aware of the perils of ‘drunk driving’ even at the sub conscious level.
Reducing Alcohol availability
Alcohol consumption among teenagers could be easily reduced by reducing alcohol availability or to make the prices too high for the teenagers to purchase.
Parental Control/ Restriction
One solution is to simply control teenage drinking by keeping a strict eye on the school’s social environment of the teenager. (Presley & Pimentel, 2006) However parents must take into account that behaviors such as alcohol consumption, drug use and drinking are the initial steps towards delinquency. Therefore children must be stopped at the initial level before it gets too late for their experience of drunk driving. It is through the frequent use of alcohol consumption that teenagers become sexually active and begin driving. This problem also leads teenagers to stop thinking about further studies, therefore they decide to drop out or stay in school. Therefore parental control is necessary in order to prevent teenagers from drinking abuse.
Solving teenagers sociological problems
There is a need to view and analyze the idealized, sentimentalized vision of childhood spread beyond its initial focus in family life. (Joel, 1994, p. 6) Reformers must begin to draw attention to problems faced by teenagers in the larger society. All the problems that previously had been ignored must be given adequate consideration. Therefore another solution of preventing children from drunk driving is to dig deep the various sociological concerns and reasons behind, thereby understanding the root and cause of their social issues. For example parents may give extra attention to their children, listen to their problems closely and suggest the best solutions for their problems, thereby not ignoring even their minor concerns. This would provide them with confidence to face challenges of the world and they would not like indulging in drinking escorting to drunk driving. Among various problems that escort children towards drunk driving are child abuses, juvenile delinquency, childhood poverty, loneliness, psychological disorders and other social problems of childhood.
Psychological Intervention
Many of the major advances in the treatment of drunk driving have come in the form of psychological interventions. The reason is simple; drinking and driving are two individual tasks, but as soon as they associate, the consequences become disastrous not only for those teenagers who drive for fun but also for the pedestrians or for those who lost their lives. However for teenagers psychological intervention like motivational interviewing is useful. Some interventions are delivered individually but others are delivered better in groups (where teenager drinkers are present). Clinical solution must be provided to the teenager. Holistic approaches, chronological factors and behaviors must be taken into consideration.
Legislative action
One solution is to take legislative action against the teenagers. Since most drunk drivers are not even adults therefore there is a need to pass a legislative action in which children aged between 13 and 19 could be punished. This punishment would be followed with a heavy fine and a couple of week’s jail. Session court around the country must take strict actions in order to alleviate this evil act. This would not only discourage children from drunk driving, it would teach them a lesson not even to drink.
License Suspension
The teenager drunk drivers if found guilty by the traffic police must be punished for traffic violation in accordance with the legislation and must not be able to retain their licenses and continue to drive until their licenses revoke as part of the sentence imposed after conviction, a process that could take months or even a year or more. Perhaps in this way drunk, society might be able to produce lesser drunk drivers.
A single Solution – Psychological Intervention
The reason for choosing this solution as a problem to ‘drunk driving’ is that the way ‘psychological intervention’ is linked with all other solutions; it includes many other solutions penetrated in a single solution. Since the relationship between alcohol use and accidents make it difficult to isolate a single and specific causality. Therefore psychological intervention involves multiple systems which include: the individual; the treating agencies; the peer group; the family; the local community; and society at large (including the legal context of the individual and his/her alcohol misuse).
Assessment
Most teenage drunk drivers, find this a difficult situation to be assessed by the psychologist and for those who are followed by access, misuse or dependence on alcohol, the patient is likely to be very anxious indeed. In this case it is helpful for the clinician to assess patient’s attitude and check whether he possess a positive or a negative approach towards his interests. This should be the first step in assessing his views towards studies, sports and other creative hobbies he might have. This assessment would enable the clinician about whether he is an easy patient or a difficult one to handle. In case the patient founds to be negative approached, clinician’s first attempt must be towards correcting his way of life.
For many teenagers, and especially those who are in a continuous habit of driving while drunk, the assessment procedure itself may be a therapeutic process. They are supposed to tell their ‘history’; how they got used to alcohol, what were the reasons for drinking; why were they motivated etc. This also helps the teenager, perhaps for the first time, to see his/her drunken driving problem in some sort of perspective. In the coming paragraphs by ‘patient’, I mean ‘teenager drunk drivers’.
Clinician must determine to what extent the patient is willing to cooperate in order to alleviate his habit of drunk driving. Alcohol dependence is associated with pharmacological substitution, many young patients’ might be frightened with clinician’s approach of treating their ‘alcohol’ consumption. (Bean & Nemitz, 2004, p. 35) in the initial treatment phase, patient must be discovered in detail about his likes, dislikes, his past, any abuse he experienced and all the bad experiences he had either at home or during his studies in school. Psychological assessment includes mental illness, social problems and educational problems or characteristics (Crum et al, 2006).
Alcohol Withdrawal
The purely psychological formulation of dependence takes account of a patient’s withdrawal symptoms in accordance with his/her drinking habits, and the time the patient spends drinking while driving. In practice, drinking often becomes continuous, as if to recapture an alcohol effect. (Heather & Stockwell, 2004, p. 39) Therefore the best solution for the clinical psychologist is to make the young patient realize about the deterioration drunk driving upholds. In this case indirect telling is beneficial than to directly educate the patient. Indirect counselling involves case studies description put before the patient so that he could read and learn lesson. In this case clinician should make sure to list out only those cases in which because of drunk drivers innocent people lost their lives. While determining the nature of the patient, the clinician could utilize and make the most of this opportunity to educate his patient about the consequences aftermath. This would make the patient realize seriously about his bad habit and then he would think about quitting alcohol.
Brief Intervention with Motivational Interviewing
Brief interventions include few minute sessions that enable patients to recognize their problem extent, commitment to change, reduced alcohol consumption and brief skills training. Young patients who are subjected to high alcohol consumption while driving, but who are not necessarily alcohol-dependent, are the primary targets for brief interventions. Through these approaches the clinician would provide feedback, encouraging client responsibility for change, offer advice, provide a menu of alternatives and use an empathic approach while reinforcing the patient.
Treating teenagers drinking with Models of Addictive Behaviours
After assessing the patient’s history and alcohol subjectivity, these four models are used for their behavioral analysis. The moral model, in which the person would be held responsible for both acquiring and changing his/her alcohol problem; the disease or medical model, where a person is held responsible for neither the acquisition nor the change of his/her alcohol problem; the spiritual or enlightenment model, where he would be held responsible for the development of his/her alcohol problem but is not responsible for changing it; and finally, the compensatory model, where a person is not held responsible for the development of his/her alcohol problem but is seen as responsible for changing their problem and considered capable of doing so. (Fiegelman, 1990, p. 43)
Cognitive Behavioural Alcohol Treatment
According to the first principle of cognitive-behavioural alcohol treatment, excessive drinking characteristic of alcohol abuse and dependence disorders is conceptualized as a set of socially learned behaviours with multiple determinants. These determinants include genetic factors, learning from school or friends, situational antecedents, cognitive processes and immediate positive and delayed negative consequences. This treatment approach focuses on: (a) situational antecedents of excessive drinking, such as time of day, place, people, activities; (b) internal states, such as anxiety, depression or other unpleasant emotions or painful sensations that may increase the likelihood of excessive drinking; (c) cognitive processes, such as expectancies about the rewarding effects of alcohol and attributions infusing alcohol with the power of a magic elixir to transform moods; and (d) the reinforcing consequences that serve to maintain drinking behaviour (Heather & Stockwell, 2004, p. 73).
In addition to having biological and socio-cultural causes and consequences, addictive behaviors, such the excessive drinking characteristic of alcohol abuse or dependence, particularly while driving are temporarily effective, yet ultimately maladaptive, coping mechanisms. Clinicians must expect that after a cognitive-behavioral alcohol treatment therapy, alcoholism as a habit change process would gradually replace addictive behaviors of patients with new and more adaptive coping skills. Since the overall goal of cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment is to help patient meeting life’s demands without resorting to the excessive use of alcohol and its associated problems, but here as the patient is a teenager the therapy would be successful if he quits alcoholism.
Stages of Change
Effective cognitive-behavioral alcohol treatment requires that both therapist and patient understand the stages that occur when one acquires an abusive or dependent pattern of drinking and the stages that occur when drinking behavior changes to a moderate level of consumption or is eliminated entirely. In case where the patient is teenager, elimination is likely to occur. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on an empirical, developmental model of alcohol use disorders, which attempts to delineate the natural history of excessive drinking and alcohol-related problems. As therapist and patient refine this understanding, they collaborate to generate an effective treatment plan for either individual or group therapy formats (Vaillant, 1995).
It should be taken into account that adolescence is the first stage when the potential development of alcohol dependence or other alcohol-related problems begins with exposure and experimentation with alcohol, often while driving. Whether an alcohol-related problem of any type develops depends on a variety of bio-psychosocial factors including genetic vulnerability, family dynamics, peer relations, conduct problems, media depictions of drinking, or access to alcohol occasionally, it must be alleviated at the ground root level. Most individuals who drink while driving experience occasional mild to moderate alcohol-related problems followed with accidents but it is better not to ignore the first attempts when teenagers start consuming alcohol for no parents or family would want to be one of the shattered ones, who loose their children in accidents (CBS, Nov 13, 2007).
Bean Philip & Nemitz Teresa, (2004) Drug Treatment: What Works? Routledge: New York.
Boyd M. Gayle, Howard Jan & Zucker A. Robert, (1995) Alcohol Problems among Adolescents: Current Directions in Prevention Research: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Hillsdale, NJ. CBS.
Crum M. Rosa, Juon Hee Soon, Green M. Kerry, Robertson Judith & Fothergill Kate, (2006) “Educational Achievement and Early School Behavior as Predictors of Alcohol-Use Disorders: 35-Year Follow-Up of the Woodlawn Study” In: Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Volume: 67. Issue: 1. p: 75
Feigelman William, (1990) Treating Teenage Drug Abuse in a Day Care Setting: Praeger Publishers: New York.
Heather Nick & Stockwell Tim, (2004) The Essential Handbook of Treatment and Prevention of Alcohol Problems: Wiley: Hoboken, NJ.
Presley A. Cheryl & Pimentel R.Edgardo, (2006) “The Introduction of the Heavy and Frequent Drinker: A Proposed Classification to Increase Accuracy of Alcohol Assessments in Postsecondary Educational Settings” In: Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Volume: 67. Issue: 2 p: 324
Robin D. Gerald, (1991) Waging the Battle against Drunk Driving: Issues, Countermeasures, and Effectiveness: Praeger Publishers: New York.
Vaillant, G.E. (1995). The Natural History of Alcoholism Revisited. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
The majority of drivers are convinced that alcohol and driving are incompatible notions. The acknowledgment of such a statement can be seen through the results of social advertisement, tougher fines, and all-around propaganda. Omitting statistics and merely analyzing the top news of the celebrities who were caught drunk driving, it can be seen that such methods are not enough to stop people from risking their lives as well as the life of others. In that regard, a mandatory jail term can be seen as a method that not only will punish lawbreakers but will also bring awareness to the general population of such a phenomenon.
One reason for mandatory jail terms is that softer punishment does not seem to fulfill its role. A threat of incarceration might make a difference in people’s minds, especially taking into consideration the people who usually follow the law. For many people, the line is drawn between punishments such as paying a fine and license suspension, and a potential jail term is the main difference between a citizen and a convict. The fear of having such a statement in the biography will force people to think twice before deciding drunk driving. Comparing Incarceration to fines, the latter is not taken seriously to a degree that, they do not serve as a deterrent, and for people who are financially secured, such punishment is no different than a parking fine.
Another argument for imposing jail terms for drunk driving is the potential threats to others’ life. Drawing analogies with other criminal felonies, a person who intentionally got into a driving seat while being drink, is similar to a person who waived a bat at someone but missed. In that regard, both cases are similar in terms of the acknowledgment of the possibility of someone getting hurt or killed. The statistics of the outcomes of drunk driving, which are widely published through different media, eliminate any possibility that there could be drivers, who are unaware of the threats they are carrying while drunk driving.
Looking at the arguments, one might argue that, unless there are victims, the jail term as a punishment surpasses the committed violation. A person who exceeded the norms of alcohol, and was driving home, is a violation that does not correspond to the punishment of spending a certain time in jail.
However, it should be noted that the judgment is not based on the doing, rather on the nature of the potential risk, such doing creates. A drunk driver not only has lower abilities to respond to occurring situations on the road, he/she is also not able to correctly judge the situation and make the correct decision. Driving is not a reaction to single events on the road, but also a continuous process in which risk should be assessed, to make a good decision.
It can be concluded that drunk driving is a violation that surpasses simple traffic violations in terms of danger. The potential threats of drunk driving make it a serious offense. Thus, mandatory jail terms for drunk driving can be seen as suitable measures, which on the one hand will sufficiently punish the violators, and on the other hand, will raise the awareness of the society to this dangerous and anti-social behavior.
This paper is organized into six paragraphs. The first paragraph gives a brief overview of the problem under discussion. The second, third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs offer each a point of argument in putting my point across that any drunk driver should be imprisoned on the first offense. The final paragraph summarizes the paper and restates the purpose of the essay.
Driving under the influence, not only under alcohol, as best understood by drunk driving, is a criminal offense in many countries worldwide. Drunk driving has been reported to be the leading cause of traffic accidents around the globe that has led to many deaths and loss of property. In the US alone, 13 000 deaths are reported yearly on average from drunk driving-related cases, which translates to 1 death every 39 minutes (CBS, 2009). On many occasions, culprits in drunk-driving-related accidents have shown to be serial offenders in the same crime. This has resulted in involved authorities imposing very heavy signs on the offenders. But are the fines serious enough to deter other potential offenders? This has been the question that the public and more persons who have served in the hands of a drunken driver ask.
In the US, each state has responded with its unique way of punishing offenders as guided by its stated traffic laws. However, no matter the laws or the punishments meted out, the number of traffic accidents is spiraling higher and higher. So what would be the final solution or rather the most effective manner to bring down the number and saving lives and saving others unnecessary pain? The best way would be imprisoning offenders in the first offense without bail. In the first place, they have broken a law that is already too lenient of drunk drivers and also because they pose a risk in two ways; themselves and other drivers.
Many arguments have been fronted in challenging drunk driving by the question what level of alcohol consumption is considered as dangerous to drive. All the fifty states in the US agree on the legal limit of alcohol intake that is permissible for a driver at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of.08. This translates to two drinks for an average woman and four drinks for an average male. Unfortunately, as some have literally experienced, our bodies have different tolerance to alcohol intake. As such, it is not reason enough to say that a man, after partaking in four drinks, has the same clear vision prior to consumption.
Invariably, while four drinks seem to be acceptable but still have a relative amount of risk, persons who have exceeded the legal limit should be classified as potential criminals and treated with the handedness that they deserve. Studies have shown that a person on the legal limit “has poor muscle coordination — affecting their balance, speech, vision, reaction time and hearing — find it more difficult to detect danger, and exhibit impaired judgment, self-control, reasoning ability and memory” (Buddy, 2006). While the State governments allow this kind of incompetence in not-so-drunk drivers, it would be totally inhuman to allow a person past poor muscle coordination to hold responsible in a way the life and safety of other road users and pedestrians. It is therefore most logical to have such offenders jailed for their first offence.
Legal experts have equated driving under influence as equitable to murder. A closer look at this line of argument would reveal that there is some element of truth in it. While many will take stock of drunk driving with the number of accidents or deaths reported, other additional costs are left unmentioned. In a CBS News pullout, the psychological suffering that kids involved in traffic accidents, whereby we note a majority are caused by drunk driving leaves the survivors of such accidents in a very bad mental state. Such kids will develop a phobia of driving that will impact greatly in their productivity later in life. With such far reaching consequences of a rather “innocent” moment of indulgence, we realize that it is high time that offenders were made to realize the actual cost of their actions by being a slapped with a generous jail term in their first offence. This will go a long way in warding off potential offenders and actually saving lives and property.
With such solid ground, it is high time that drunk drivers are made to be responsible citizens by being jailed on their first offence and in order to save lives and restore safety and sanity on the roads.
Even though there is some proof that sensible alcohol utilization can reduce coronary heart disease, the outlay of surplus alcohol utilization both to persons and to civilization in general is tremendously soaring. One finds that the deep changes in the body composition of drinkers after drinking; one would anticipate alcohol to have as a minimum various straight outcomes on behavior. When individuals drink, alcohol is metabolized in their livers initially as acetaldehyde and ultimately into carbon dioxide and water. A quantity of the acetaldehyde in the liver is riveted into the bloodstream. Acetaldehyde influences nearly all of the tissues in the body (Haworth,, pp. 13-19).
A number of different researches tell that reasonable drinkers lean to eat more and accumulate more of what they eat as heavy when they drink alcohol. It has been strongly observed that drinking augments aggression. One of the mainly researched areas of alcohol’s outcomes on psychological functioning is the acute outcomes of alcohol on remembrance. That alcohol should have an effect on memory will not be a revelation to one. Everybody has taken notice of cases in which someone drank a lot one night and then, even though certainly not losing realization, did not memorize a great deal or anything about that night, an alleged blackout. And it is not a revelation to physiologists also. Alcohol reduces the movement of the neurons in the hippocampus, a fraction of the brain that has been exposed to be very significant for reminiscence. However one may be astonished to be familiar with that as a minimum under some circumstances, one does not have to drink a great quantity of alcohol or have a blackout in order for alcohol to have an effect on the reminiscence. Even just thinking one drank can damage the memory (Hempelman, p. 175). Middle-aged individuals keep less information when they carry out memory responsibilities after drinking than do younger individuals. Alcohol disturbs individuals’ recognition of behavioral mistakes, like those that can happen while driving. The minds of individuals who have had alcohol respond less when one of these errors happens.
Drinking boosts one’s confidence and reticence but decreases one’s driving performance such as response times, stopping distance. One may sense like one can do whatever thing at the back the steering wheel of a car after a six-pack. But in reality one cannot. A lot of accidents happen for the reason of drinking. Majority of these mishaps engage only one vehicle, but precious lives of other people are taken by drunk drivers. There is a method to defend one’s self from drunk drivers. Primarily, always put on the seat belt. Next, maintain one’s distance from anyone that may look to be under the control. Anyone who is turning sharply, or moving too slow is high-quality illustrations (David, p.4). Although it is impracticable to avoid all of these accidents, people have to be cultured about drinking and driving.
Works Cited
David, H., “Why do we think were children until were 21?” Inside Tuscon Business, Vol. 14 No. 52, 2005, p. 4.
Haworth, Alan, and Ronald Simpson, eds. Moonshine Markets: Issues in Unrecorded Alcohol Beverage Production and Consumption. New York: Brunner-Rutledge, 2003.
Hempelman, K.A., Teen Legal Rights, Publisher: Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, 2000, pp. 174-175.
Driving while drunk is collectively known as impaired driving where one drives when under alcohol or any other drug influence. In some countries such as Canada, drinking and driving is an offence and one could be jailed for although cancelling of driving licenses and fines are the most used punishments for such offences.
Driving while one is intoxicated or drunk poses great danger to drivers since they are more likely to get vehicle accidents which may involve injuries or even deaths to themselves and their passengers (if there are any). Many countries especially the UK have set different blood alcohol concentration for drivers to help prevent road accidents.
Drinking and driving
Driving while drunk has been, for many years, under discussions as the number of vehicle accidents are increasing every day in our roads. Drugs affect one’s ability to react to normal and small things that happen instantly especially when driving.
The concentration of alcohol in a driver’s blood is directly proportional to the driver’s ability to judge distances as well react appropriately to sudden happenings in the road. For instance, the number of deaths of single vehicle drivers registering high blood alcohol content is hundreds times more than those of the same drivers but with a zero blood alcohol content.
What makes the matter worse is the fact that some people drink to the extent of getting blurred vision but still they go on and drive. This situation is worsened more when a blurred driver is driving at night especially in areas where there are no street lights. To many people, drugs that affect one’s ability to drive safely are only the illegal drugs such as marijuana and bhang.
However, these include many of the prescription drugs and the over the counter drugs as long as the drug changes one’s mood or ability to see properly. Ignorance such side effects from the prescription drugs have contributed to a certain percentage of road accidents especially drugs that cause drowsiness. It is therefore up to the driver to plan not to drive if after all he is planning on drinking.
Enquiring from doctors about the side effects associated with prescription medications is also a good move in combating the problem. Some of these drugs, when combined with alcohol, have more drastic effects than either of them could by themselves (Hanson, 2009, p. 1).
Similar to many other social problems in the society today, drinking and driving has not been able to be stopped by the simple rules such as road signs.
As a result, other measures have been taken to effectively reduce the vice. Many countries have now implemented the automatic annulment of one’s license which has proved to be one of the most effective measures towards solving the problem because naturally, no one would want for his license to be cancelled. This has caused many drivers to be cautious on the same matter.
Mandatory jail sentence is also another effective way of getting drivers to avoid driving while they are drunk. Cessation of number plates may be as well an effective method of solving this problem. Laws should be put into place to prevent movement of certain vehicles whose drivers violate the ‘don’t drink and drive rule’.
The use of an alcohol blow gadget that detects the content of one’s alcohol has been helpful in determining drunk drivers in many countries. This makes it possible to identify and therefore punish the defective drivers. Setting up social programs that address the problems and risks associated with drunk driving may as well enlighten the drivers and give them a reason to take the matter seriously.
Restrictions to prevent night time driving especially among the youth who are always going to late night drinking parties could also prevent vehicle accidents. This may also involve getting a designated driver or one may choose to walk home instead of driving.
However, if you have to drink and drive, it is advisable for one to stay sober by either limiting the number of drinks (this differs with many people). Another way of staying sober is by eating protein rich foods such as especially meat while drinking to help lower the body’s rate of alcohol absorption (Hanson, 2009, p. 1).
Conclusion
It is disturbing how drinking and driving habits has caused many deaths on our roads. Many road accidents have been associated with careless driving resulting from drunk drivers. This is because many drugs lower the driver’s ability to coordinate his thoughts and respond to sudden happenings on the roads.
Due to the increase in road accidents, many countries have gone beyond the normal road signs rules to putting other strict measures into place in an effort to prevent these occurrences. Among the most effective measures that have worked in many nations are: jail sentencing or fining and annulment of one’s driving license.
By now it should be clear to every driver that careful driving (either sober or drunk), is all for one’s benefit as well as the other people around him. Drivers should therefore be responsible enough to ensure safety on the roads without being pushed by the law.
This site belongs to “Mothers against Drunk Driving” (MADD), a voluntary and a non-profit organization that aims at stopping drunk driving. MADD is based in the United States and seeks to protect and support victims of drunken driving. Other objectives of the organization include acting against teen drinking and supporting stringent measures against dunk driving.
The organization was established in 1980 by its pioneer Candice Lightner, a mother whose child suffered a tragic death due to carelessness of a drunk driver. MADD has grown significantly since its establishment; at present has approximately six hundred state organizations.
The organization has community action teams in fifty states in United States. The organization has grown to penetrate Guam, Canada and Puerto Rico, where it has affiliates. MADD’s membership and support is currently estimated at three million people in the US alone (Hamilton 90).
MADD’s site is useful to the general public in countries where it has support and membership. It is useful to victims of drunken driving and to the families of the deceased victims as a result of drunk driving. In the US, MADD is the leading organization in campaign against drunk driving. The organization inception in 1980 was characterized by a change of public’s perception towards effects of alcohol on drivers.
The organization was established after a thirteen year old girl was hit and killed by a notorious drunkard in California. Her mother contributed significantly to form and popularize the organization. She was joined by other women in the US to campaign against the lax system that had failed repetitively to deal with the infamous violent crime. Since its inception, MADD has aided the passing of anti-drinking, drunk driving, victims’ rights and underage drinking prevention acts and laws in the US (Hamilton 90).
Information from the site suggests that MADD is a very important global contributor in helping accident victims. Its leadership and organization is made of twenty-six members who act as the national board of directors. The leadership includes a youth director mandated to manage MADD’s business and to carry out research to form the public policy positions.
The lawmaking agendas of MADD are guided by these policy positions. The policies guide in determination of relevant and effective actions against drunken driving challenges. In Texas, the MADD’s National Executive Director manages the national office. This office is responsible for formation of public policies and design of awareness programs. The director oversees formation and execution of victims support and public relations programs.
MADD’s funding is gathered from personal contributions, monetary gifts from corporations, government’s aids and grants, foundations, promotions and licenses (Hamilton 90). In the website under “sponsor’s” link, MADD supporters are categorized under the following:
Presenting Sponsors: under this category, Nationwide Insurance is listed that encourages connection of parents and children to stop underage drinking. State Farm encourages formation of programs that involves teens in the fight against underage drinking.
Supporters: under supporters the General Motors Foundation and Auto Alliance Driving Innovation have been listed.
Contributing Sponsors: Aftermath, PM Solutions Group and Smart Sign have been listed under contributing sponsors.
Strategic Alliance Partners: Dial America contributes aid in magazine subscription sales. Hill Street Marketing partnership with MADD offers a variety of beverages with 0% alcohol. Knology Inc offers media support to MADD’s campaigns.
Local Sponsors: under local supporters, companies like Bachus &Schanker, Goldberg &Osborne, Bell & Pollock and Hyundai have been listed (MADD 1).
The site has a “media center” link that is very informative and up to date. In the media centre, links to featured press release and MADD’s statements have been provided. By following the link, MADD has provided an overview of the effectiveness of its programs and budgeting. MADD has provided information regarding the lives that have been saved and the positive impact derived by its programs.
MADD has highlighted the relevance and the success of its missions. United States has benefited and progressed in reducing deaths and injuries resulting from drunken driving. MADD notes that although road accidents and associated injuries have reduced, drunken driving crimes are still rampant (MADD 1).
From the website, I have learned that MADD is a non-profit organization, and therefore it faces the challenge of public endorsement. The organization also faces the challenge of changing the mindset of public regarding its ultimate message of “not dinking and driving”. However, MADD continues to strengthen the current laws and campaigning for new driving laws. MADD’s factsheet available in the site is very informative.
Information about the latest life saving devices and their effectiveness is available in details. The factsheet also contains details of MADD’s campaign against drunken driving that was introduced in 2006. The factsheet contains the details of upcoming technology in motor and insurance industry. Other important details include underage drinking facts, the drunken driving enforcement details and the statistics that rank drunk driving as the most often committed, vicious offense in the US (MADD 1).
In the website under “victim services,” comprehensive information concerning services provided by MADD to accident victims of drunken driving has been provided. MADD appreciates the lifelong effects of the injuries or deaths sustained in accidents; all these services are in line with this thought.
As stated under victim services, MADD’s benevolence services benefits one victim every eight minutes in the United States; these services are free of charge. Under finding support, details of services that follow a crash are provided. In essence, MADD provides emotional support, legal aid, relevant references and support materials to victims. Legal aid includes advocacy in criminal justice system, accompanying them to court and preparation of legal documents (MADD 1).
The website contains comprehensive information covering the rights of victims. As the largest and most acknowledged victim service organization, MADD ensures that victim’s rights are observed. MADD advices victims as per the 2004 Victim Rights Act and assists in preparation of victim’s impact document and offender’s notification.
A section of the website honors the victims or the survivors of drunken driving. Survivors and their families are honored and consoled; departed victims are honored to remember their contributions and to keep their good memories (MADD 1).
In my opinion, the site is very useful and I would consider using it later in an event that I become a victim of drunken driving. MADD’s track record is commendable and its activities are based on informed decisions. After perusing the site, I found the site quite informative and helpful. MADD is a successful political movement organized around compelling issues of drunken driving. It is based on shared concerns of a particular social group, and has attempted to restore social order in the society.
Works Cited
Hamilton, Wendy. “Mothers Against Drunk Driving: MADD in the USA.” Injury Prevention (2000): 90–91. Print.
MADD. MADD: History, Victim Services, Media Sponsors and Sponsors. 2012. Web.