Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Toss, The Scream, The Question

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, only in this case the hurt has great potential of becoming death at any and every turn. I’ve seen my share of rowdy parties, outlandish festivities and late night afterglows that led to more than just hugging the porcelain bowl wondering why we ever thought playing beer pong was a great idea. It’s not so much having a drink that concerns most of us, it’s the very idea that you think you can drive while under the influence, more so that it’s even alright to drive. How many great epiphanies does it take for us to see the chooses that hang lives in the balance are not chooses to be made while drunk.

We try to add rules and laws to make our streets safe but to no avail, with so many who scoff at such decrees and set their own bar. It’s not that every single driver who has a drink and then drives is going to have a fatality, that’s not at all what I’m saying. I’m simply saying that its tuff enough to drive while all our senses are fully intact much less when they are hampered. This is why the Austin police Chief Art Acevedo is pushing for a new drunk driving category in Texas. His plan would target those who have had a couple drinks, but are not yet legally drunk. "People need to understand impairment starts with the first drink.” It would be called Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) and would apply to those with a blood alcohol level of .05 and .07. The current DWI limit is .08 (Acevedo). We could all name someone or have heard of someone whose lives have been affected in some way by drunk drivers, the list might never end if we actually sat down and began to write. However I only want to funnel you toward one story in particular, it’s a story that starts like all the others and ends like most of them as well, only this one resonates with great emotion because it’s so close to home.

It’s been over fifteen years since it happen and I can still hear her screams scratching at my mind like sharp nails on a chalkboard. The party was incredible that night; we had good food, great friends, awesome music, and endless drinks. I wasn’t much for drinking at this stage of my life, but really enjoyed great company so I found myself at all the hot spots. My close friends would always invite me to these shindigs just so they would have a designated driver on hand. However this night as things began to wind down we would be faced with the issue of far too many needing rides and only one driver. That’s when Lisa, the wife of a dear friend decided that she hadn’t had that much to drink and could drive some of the crew members’ home. Everything was fine until her claim that something hit the window caused her to lose control of the wheel; sending them on a ten plus hood over carriage flip-aram-a that took the life of every passenger except the driver. She laid there grasping for composure, her mind numb with pain. For a brief moment she said it felt like it was a bad dream, a bad dream that quickly turned into a nightmare as the engine burst into flames that began to lick at the air like a startled snake. She loosened her upside down remains and pulled herself away from the firebox. The car exploded and every smile, every laugh, every joke told, every gathering, and every night out came to a complete end. I had already dropped off two of my passengers and was only a few minutes behind the accident. I arrived just prior to the explosion, and her meltdown. I’m still not sure if it was the noise of the blast or the heat of the flames that jarred her mind but it wasn’t until then did she realize all who she so eagerly choose to chauffeur. First there was Eddie, he had just turned twenty one and was one of the main reasons for the party. Then we had Jimmy, he wasn’t the crowd favorite but you could always rest assure that if you needed someone to back you up for any reason, Jimmy was your man. Last but not least we had Alfonso, Fonzy for all his close friends and he was extremely close to Lisa since they had been married for six years and had two girls together. That scream, that deafening, hollow, empty scream shook me to core. I sat that and watched her die on the inside as her heart crashed to the ground and shattered into a thousand pieces like it was made of glass.

Nothing prepares you for death, no matter how many times you think you’re really ready for it, you’re truly not even with a warning. So when you add the element of surp
Consequences of Drinking and Driving

Other Options

Driving while drunk is bad no matter what the situation if you only a few and driving home or going with someone that has been drinking and not saying a thing. Drinking and driving aint just a dangerous way to kill yourself, you can wreck your life and your familys lifes. If you get pulled over for a DWI or DUI you can get your license removed. My dad who happens to be a truck driver was in this liitle predicument he was pulled over for speeding and got arrested for drinking and driving he got a ticket for DWI and would have lost his tucking license and basically he's job, but luckily he got it reduced and was able to keep his license and his job but who know what would have happened if he lost his job.
There are other ways for you to get home safely and not be in any sorts of danger if you happen to be drinking. You can have what we call a DD which is the designated driver, or call a taxi or a friend to come pick you up if they can, or if it's okay with the person throwing the party if it's okay if you spend the night there are ways to avoid drinking and driving safes ways.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Prevent Drunk Driving

Drinking and Driving should be ceased immediately. Death tolls would decrease and families would then have more time with their loved ones. Innocent victims each day are suffering the consequences of stupid individuals that think it is acceptable to drink and drive. I know many of us are scared for our safety while we are sober and driving on the roadways, but something happens to us when we are offered alcohol. Drinking and Driving isn’t the same combination like coffee and donuts. Coffee can give you yellow teeth stains, but causing an accident due to drinking and driving is irreversible. Here is one way in which you can prevent intoxicated people from getting behind the wheel. Let’s say you are hosting a party that involves alcohol. Try to stay as close to sober as possible just in case something negative happens. Remember you are not the Police and can not demand car keys to be taken away. The only action you can take is to call the Police to insure this person doesn’t break the law. If you were originally in the car with the inebriated friend, simply stay behind and call for someone that is sober who will drive you home. Even if it is a close friend of yours, it does NOT matter! Personally, I think it isn’t smart to drink excessively in the first place, but if you choose to keep in mind of the consequences that may follow.



Hanson, David J. "Drinking & Driving - Alcohol: Problems & Solutions Site." Alcohol Problems and Solutions. Web. 04 Dec. 2010.
<http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrinkingAndDriving.html

Life Changing


My sister who is in her mid 20's now was in a horrific accident about 3 or 4 years ago. She had a beautiful cherry apple red Mustang GT, it was a beautiful machine but a fast one. She decided to drive while drunk and started racing in her car in a dark, curvy road in the middle of the night. She came up to curve and was going to fast to control her vehicle and ran off the road. Her car went end over end tree trunks punctured all around her vehicle as if were paper some bigger than others. The car was a big ball of wrecked metal, my sister got lucky surving with a cuple broken bones and some stitches but this wouldnt have happend if she wasnt drinking and driving. It was a big blow when are family heard about the crash it was real late when we got the news and i bet the worst went through my parents head because i know i thought the worst. She was in the hospital for several days, when she finally came back home it was like it wasnt her again she was quiet bandageded up arm in a sling that wasn't my sister.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Problem Nation Wide




Drunk Driving is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world today. There are many ways we can try to prevent deaths by reducing the amount of traffic accidents. According to Gale, “20% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S each year are caused by drunk drivers” (Hanson). Also, High blood alcohol content drivers tend to be male, ages 25-35 years old and have a history of DWI convictions and polydrug abuse” (Hanson). We cannot stop people from driving, but their licenses can be revoked or thrown into a penitentiary due to alcohol offenses. It is always good to protect yourself and help your inebriated friends by taking their keys away. Drunk Driving is a very serious problem that many people don’t take it seriously. There some penalties with little effect. According to a nation-wide study, “Large fines (for example $500) would have little deterrent effect” (Hanson). States raising the cost of alcohol may not reduce drunk driving. According to David, “increasing the cost of alcohol with a 10% tax would have virtually no impact on reducing drunk driving” (Hanson). Also, “increasing the cost tend to discriminate against lower income consumers and create other problems of unknown magnitude”. We all just need to be aware of what’s going around us.

"Big Problem With Wisconsin Drinking « CAFFEINATED POLITICS." CAFFEINATED POLITICS. 16 Nov. 2008. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. .

David J. Hanson, Ph.D. "Drunk Driving Is a Serious National Problem." Drunk Driving. Ed. Tamara Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2010.







Still Wanting To Drink and Drive?




We often hear that it is safe to have a friend with you at a party to help you drive just in case you get drunk. One night my friend and I went to a party. I got so drunk, I couldn’t drive. So I told my friend to be the designated driver. While driving home she almost crashed the car, because I was yelling at her and she was drunk as well. Even with a designated driver, people are still able to crash. It is always good to have a friend who doesn’t drink at all. According to Roth’s research, “Nearly 20% of rural respondents said they didn’t choose the designated driver until after people had started drinking” (Rothe). Having a designated driver is a good thing, but the passengers often tend to abuse them. The designated driver often gets yelled at or they often threaten each other to fight. According Rothe’s research it shows, “significant percentage of young people was willing to drive while intoxicated, as they had seen their parents driving after a few drinks” (Rothe). Following your parent’s foot steps is a good thing, but following their bad habits is considered a bad thing. If you are at a party with your friends and decide to get drunk, just call a taxi or just sleep over at the party. Even with a designated driver, people can still crash regardless.



"Big Problem With Wisconsin Drinking « CAFFEINATED POLITICS." CAFFEINATED POLITICS. 16 Nov. 2008. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. http://dekerivers.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/big-problem-with-wisconsin-drinking/.

"Google Image Result for Http://www.5myteen.com/images/crashOP.jpg." Google. 2005. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. .
Rothe, Peter. "Designating a Driver Is Not Enough." Drunk Driving. Ed. Tamara Thompson. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Dec. 2010.