Around the world, people are taught about the dangers of impaired driving, so why does it continue to happen? First off, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is important to consider that 31% of accidents in the U.S. are due to drunk driving. With this in consideration, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Association stated that car crashes are the leading cause of death amongst teens with 25% of those crashes involving a drunk driver. I think the reason for this unfortunate state is that not enough adolescents have seen the consequences of impaired driving directly affect their lives.
Recently, a 19-year-old graduate from my old high school passed away due to a drunk driving accident. The driver, a 17-year-old I knew, was sent into a coma. Even though these were not kids I knew well, it is terrifying and depressing to learn that someone your age died due to impaired driving. Not only is it affecting the lives of those involved in the accident but also families, friends, and communities. It rides me with the fear and the guilt of what could’ve happened to the other people I knew in my life who had driven while drunk. So this got me thinking, why do people get behind the wheel when drunk?
Common reasons for impaired drivers may include that a designated driver was not assigned before the event, the designated driver did not hold their promise to stay sober, people don’t think they’re as drunk as they are, or people excuse their dangerous behavior by thinking their ride is a short distance. These issues can all be preventable. For starters, assign a designated driver before you go to a function. While you may think this is obvious, not enough people do this. If you’re the designated driver, it is important to learn who you are socially outside of alcohol. If you need alcohol to have fun, most likely you’re surrounding yourself with people who are not healthy for you.
Next, you should remember that any intoxicated driving is discouraged. Even though the legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) is .08, even with a BAC of .05 ( under the legal BAC) a driver is twice as likely to get involved in an accident (Road Safety Northern Territory Government). So if you find yourself intoxicated and in need of a ride, call an Uber, or if you are not of age, phone a sober friend or parent. Uber has now created a teen ride program called “Uber Teen” which is available in certain cities for teens to order rides by themselves
It is sad to see how many underage kids are attempting to drive while under the influence along with underage drinking. Countless teens are consuming alcohol so making sure they are traveling safely is sometimes the least you can do. Parents should always offer rides if possible regardless of their views on underage drinking. Guardians need to have a safe relationship with their kids in case of incidents where asking for a ride rather than hiding the fact they are drunk driving may save some lives.
It is critical to remember that even though you haven’t experienced the effects of drunk driving, you shouldn’t increase your chances by driving impaired. Drunk driving at a young age could develop habits that could harm you later in life. In conclusion, always assign a designated driver and encourage that person to learn who they are outside of substance. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and it is not worth it to drive intoxicated, even if it is a short distance.
