Most US states have serious consequences to driving under the influence of alcohol. Nevertheless, drunk driving incidents and fatalities continue to rise. In addition to the many already deterants to drunk driving already in place, what else can be done to stop this problem and save innocent lives? As a pedestrian, I am fearful of walking on the side-walk when these maniacs are on the road!
2006-09-04 12:49:42 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The number of drunk driving incidents are only on the rise because of lowered legal BAC counts and a lot more checkpoints. The change from .1 to .08 didn't result in a dramatic drop in fatalities, but did result criminalizing a greater number of people and became a money generating policy.
Fatalities are actually down, but it is a very unpopular stance to take. For a politician, it would be suicide and for those in the news industry, "happy news" doesn't sell.
The way the statistics are gathered is misleading, a person who has had one beer, well under the limit, stopped at a red light, gets plowed into by a sober driver, and this is reported as an alcohol-related accident.
I am not condoning drunk driving, I do not drink and never had a DUI during my drinking days. I just don't like being lied to and I don't like seeing the public being whipped into a frenzy by those with hidden agendas.
2006-09-05 04:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by raysny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I see a lot of answers on the demand side, but never anything on the supply side. Why not make better ways for people to not have to drive to go drink? One of the problems in America is the lack of density, unless you live in a big city. As one of my friends told me, if you are drinking in New York, and can find the illuminated green globe, you have found your designated driver home.
I recently moved from the suburbs of Minneapolis (fairly low density) to the city and it has been great. In the burbs, you HAVE to drive to EVERYTHING! In the city, I can ride my bike to a plethora of bars which are just blocks away. I am about 8 blocks from a light rail stop which gets me to other places in town rather easily. I am near a bus stop, which affords many easy connections into Downtown and Uptown Minneapolis. And if need be, I can always call a cab, which can get me anywhere in the city for about $10.00.
Or, why not have a party at your house and let people stay over? Make a night of it! When I visit my friends way out in the burbs nowadays, I stay at their house and we make a night of it.
Increasing penalties on DWI's will not end drunk driving. I can't believe that it will even reduce it by any significant amount. It just makes people drive a little more careful to evade detection. If you want to reduce drunk driving, you have to find other ways for people to get around and/or change some of the social structure to it. Make it OK for people to throw a "sleepover". If you find viable ways for people to not drive drunk, I feel that overwhelmingly people will flock to them.
Drinking is so ingrained into our society that we cannot just point a finger and say "no". We must find a real supply solution.
2006-09-04 20:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by Rofonzo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Immediate jail time for those caught driving under the influence (dui).
Do not let them out until their court date and levy very heavy fines and more jail time.
There should be a federal law concerning this as the penalties are different from state to state
http://www.totaldui.com/dui_state_laws.htm
2006-09-04 20:02:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is simple. The USA has the most strict laws when it comes to drinking age and the highest fatality rate for drinking and driving. Sadly, most are teenagers. To me, when you tell a kid "don't do that" they do it anyway, if not just to prove their independance. Now, in our family we had wine with our meals. Beer was not considered taboo or offlimits, or "evil" lol. And if i even wanted a beer at home, i would simply ask, and yes, my parents would say, go to your room to drink it, and you are not going anywhere if you have one. To date in our family the only death since my grandparents on both my father and mother side has been both of my grandfathers at a very old age. No one in our family has ever even been pulled over regarding drinking. And i have seen the difference with other families.. friends of mine that had to sneak it.. well, they had to "road trip" to sneak. Or they had to party on country roads then drive home.
The key is to be real with your kids.. let them have some free space, and set the right rules. Beer, okay, but you are staying home if you drink it. Or wine, sure with meals, one glass day is healthy. Teach moderation and responsibility. To teach those, you must show those two very important virtues to your kids. Monkey see- monkey do. Once you have shown a child how to be, not lecture them and have the principle of do as i say and not as i do- you develop a very good relationship... it is called trust. And yes, it can and will keep your child alive.
When parents cuss, kids do, when parents eat with their mouth open, kids do, when parents yell and scream, etc....
As for the adults doing it... that is a whole other story about being common sense, responsibilities, being brought up and mistakes parents have made in the past and about mistakes people make in general.
2006-09-04 20:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Vita 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Raise the limit back to the levels used before MADD became a multi-billion dollar business. Then, create harsher penalties for drunk driving.
2006-09-04 19:59:24 · answer #5 · answered by desotobrave 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with Munchy we just need to have much more strict punishments. How many times when you hear about a drunk driver killing someone do you also hear " He/She had been arrested __ times before for DWI " but lobbyists won't let tougher laws pass because that might hurt Alcohol business.
2006-09-04 19:55:12 · answer #6 · answered by The Angry Stick Man 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Treat it like Germany does; Charge $10,000 dollars and 2 years of classes to get a license back, and beat their a@@ when their caught.
2006-09-04 19:52:34 · answer #7 · answered by Munchy 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Even though punishments are harsh anyone with access to enough cash and a good lawyer can get out of a DWI. Punishments need to be harsher. period. I recommend jail time. No exceptions.
2006-09-04 19:54:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
it is one of them things that will be around untill the end of time i'm afraid. however we do need stiffer laws and higher fines at least if it makes one person stop and think before they get behind the wheel drunk it will be worth it.
2006-09-04 19:53:13 · answer #9 · answered by dumbdumb 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its not going to stop , the laws could be stifer but i dont think even that would do it . they could outlaw the sales but they would make their own . and what would i do if they closed all the bars !
2006-09-04 20:11:48 · answer #10 · answered by porcelain65711 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋