Drinking And Driving Accident

One of the most important types of car accidents worldwide is the drinking and driving accident. Not only that, but approximately one quarter of all the fatalities which happen in car accidents involve driving under the influence. The sad and the good thing altogether is that these accidents are all preventable.

Alcohol has been with us for a long, long time. The majority of us have had at least one drink in our lifetimes. Still, from that to driving under the influence is a long way. You know, alcohol in fact is a drug. It is a very powerful one, affecting the alcoholic both mentally and physically. Alcohol is involved not only in car accidents, but also in domestic quarrels, all kinds of crimes, etc.

Now let’s see a few of the effects of drinking upon your body. At first, the person is very joyful, very talkative. That’s when small quantities of alcohol have been drunk, so there’s a relatively low BAC (blood alcohol concentration). Still, your judgment and your reflexes are impaired. Then, if you continue drinking, you’ll most likely start vomiting. And you’ll have a very unpleasant nausea. I don’t want to go any further, but I don’t think there is a secret in the fact that the misuse of alcohol can result in a coma or even death.

Now here are a few other facts:
The more rapidly an alcoholic beverage is being drunk, the faster the BAC will increase. Also, an empty stomach is likely to result in an increased BAC. Larger people don’t get drunk that fast because they have more blood in their organisms.

So how can a drunk person get in his car and start driving? That’s beyond my comprehension. With foggy vision, no reflexes, nausea and other similar symptoms, it is impossible to drive. The conclusion is that a drinking and driving accident is not an accident at all. With a little bit of consciousness from some persons’ parts, it can all be avoided. And I don’t think I’m asking for that much. However, relying solely on people consciousness would be an error. So there are a few prevention methods which might just work:

LICENSE REVOCATION
Yes, you heard me. Permanent license revocation would surely decrease the annual number of fatalities and of all the accidents. If a person can’t hold his liquor when he knows he has to drive, then he shouldn’t be driving at all. For example, license isn’t issued for people with very bad eyesight. Why shouldn’t it be taken away from those who lack the little bit of self awareness needed not to step drunk at the wheel?

JAIL SENTENCE
A light jail sentence, along with a permanent license revocation, could prove even more powerful in fighting against alcohol abuse while driving. You find it a little bit harsh? I don’t think it is, considering the big number of innocent lives which could be saved.

POWERFUL CAMPAIGNS
There should be powerful campaigns conducted meant to explain just how dangerous the misuse of alcohol is. For example, I’ve seen campaigns who propose a designated driver. The designated driver is useful when going to parties in groups. Before actually getting in the car, a person is nominated as a driver. This person is not allowed to drink at the parties. Larger groups require more designated drivers of course, one for each car. This should be made in turns. I don’t think it is such a big deal not drinking at one party when so many lives could be saved.

Now, no one says you can’t have a drink or two. After all, it’s a way to unwind, to socialize. But my belief is that you have to know your limits even when not driving. However, drinking when you know you have to drive is not an option. You could be injuring not only yourself, but innocent participants in the traffic who are not to blame because you had a few drinks.

Unfortunately, the numbers say it all. There’s a big problem. And until powerful campaigns and harsh measures are taken, the number will say the same thing. And the sad thing is that the drinking and driving accident isn’t actually an accident at all, it’s preventable!

About the Author

Dan Borlan is a professional SEO for Mike Filsaime Inc. If you require professional help you can contact Dan at: www.1certifiedinstaller.com