The Dangers of Drunk Driving

Every driver is responsible not only for their own lives, but the lives of their passengers and all the other vehicle operators on the road. For this reason alone, it is essential that all drivers are educated on how to safely operate a vehicle and the dangers of driving while distracted or intoxicated.

One of the biggest problems on our roads is drunk driving. Every year thousands of innocent lives are claimed by intoxicated drivers. According to MADD, car crashes are the number one leading cause of death in teenagers, and one in four car crashes with a teenager involves an underage drunk driver. In order to make change, we must first recognize that each death is more than just a statistic; it is someone’s son or daughter, husband or wife, mother or father. Every alcohol related accident is the result of one person’s selfish decision, and is completely avoidable.

I believe strongly that effective change is best brought about with a combination of positive and negative reinforcements. Our government tends to lean towards negative consequences, which come after the fact. But what if we could balance existing punitive laws with positive reinforcements that could directly affect decisions and behaviors before an accident occurs? For example, teens are often motivated by two things – peer and societal pressures (both positive and negative) as well as by money. What if our government offered a False ID Buy Back Program? Similar to the Gun Buy Back Program that exists in many states, underage individuals would be offered a cash reward to hand in their false IDs. This would reduce the number of individuals purchasing alcohol illegally, and in turn, the number of individuals intoxicated on the roads.

Unfortunately, many teenagers turn to alcohol as a source of entertainment. Many drive home putting themselves and other drivers in danger. I believe it would also be beneficial for the government to subsidize rides like Uber and Lyft for individuals who cannot drive home safely. Funds could be secured through an alcohol tax levied on distributors and retail consumers.

Many colleges and universities have a Good Samaritan Policy that protects individuals from punishment when reporting a drug or alcohol overdose. I believe that extending that policy to allow individuals to anonymously report those who are (or are about to) drive under the influence could prevent thousands of deaths.

Unfortunately, my life has been touched by the actions of irresponsible drivers many times. My uncle lost his life tragically in a drunk driving accident. Although of legal age to drink, he made the horrible decision to drink and drive after attending a wedding. His motorcycle slid on gravel in a bend, and he was unable to regain control of his bike. He collided with a post and was killed instantly, changing our family forever. Recently, one of my friends also made the horrible decision to drink and drive. While exceeding speeds of 80mph, he lost control of his vehicle and wrapped his car around a telephone pole. He totaled his car, but by the grace of God he avoided other vehicles and survived with only minor injuries. Two year ago, a friend of mine was traveling through Virginia with her brother, sister, and parents. They were hit head on when a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line. My friend was ejected from her family’s SUV and suffered a brain injury, shattered bones, and lacerated organs. She spent months in intensive care fighting for her life while doctors were unsure if she would ever regain consciousness. Fortunately she is alive and awake, but she is completely paralyzed from the chest down with no hope of regaining movement. She is fed through a tube and often rehospitalized with ongoing complications. The driver escaped with only a few cuts and scrapes.

These experiences that happened so close to me truly changed my perspective on the dangers of driving while intoxicated. It also goes to show that even if you are being safe and responsible behind the wheel, this may not be true for drivers around you, who can just as easily change your life in an instant.

While being a highschool student may come with some limitations on how much of an impact I can make on state laws and policies, I can surely do my part to educate and protect my peers and my community. I will continue to lead by example and encourage others to follow in my footsteps by refraining from underage drinking and driving while intoxicated at any age. It is important for us to understand that driving under the influence, distracted driving, and safety ignorance are serious problems facing our communities today and that they continue to change or destroy innocent people’s lives.