...Student corner n°1 Drinking and driving The text October 18, 2011, The NY times Friends Still Let Friends Drive Drunk By BARRON H. LERNER, M.D. On Sept. 15, Matthew Grape, 21, got into the passenger seat of a car with one of his Duke University fraternity brothers. The driver hit a tree, escaping with minor injuries, but killing his dear friend. According to local press reports, the driver was charged with impaired driving. Nearly 11,000 deaths related to alcohol-impaired driving still occur each year in the United States, despite a three-decade surge in anti-drunken driving activism, stricter laws and clever slogans like “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.” There are more than 110 million instances of impaired driving each year, according to data from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey and summarized in a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How can this still be occurring, and what can be done about it? Back in 1980, when Candy Lightner’s 13-year-old daughter, Cari, was killed in California by a drunken driver with several previous arrests for driving while intoxicated, including one only two days earlier, there was little public discussion of the topic, even though drunken drivers killed 25,000 Americans annually. Crashes were called “accidents,” and victims were characterized as having been “in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Police and prosecutors routinely allowed drunken drivers to plead to lesser offenses...
Words: 1890 - Pages: 8
...experimental study is being done to better understand the effectiveness of anti-drinking and driving advertisements on university-aged students. “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 16 to 25 year olds, and alcohol and/or drugs are a factor in 55% of those crashes” (Madd, 2013). Increasing the effectiveness of anti-drinking and driving advertisements could be a solution to this critically high mortality rate in young people. The main purpose of this study is to better understand the effect of positive and negative anti-drinking and driving advertisements within different settings and different amounts of times. Literature Review Studies have shown that university aged students are affected by anti-drunk driving campaigns (Cirmaru, Lavack & Markewich, 2007). Some studies have even shown the effectiveness of ads with varying motives (Wickramarachchi, 2013). In this area research falls short on certain factors such as location of these ads and the distance between seeing the ads and duration of the ads’ effect. Study One The first study to take place within this experiment is a 2 by 2 design. The first factor will be message valence being positive vs. negative while the second factor is message setting being an academic setting vs. a relaxed setting. This experiment is designed to test whether university-aged students respond better to positive or negative anti-drinking and driving advertisements in an academic setting, the University, or within a relaxed...
Words: 2170 - Pages: 9
...head off to your friends house. While you’re driving, you notice you are feeling a little drowsy. You see some headlights that look like they are heading towards you. Then all of the sudden you collide. After everything settles, you realize you are alright. You crawl out of the window and walk towards the other car. Looking through the spider-cracked windshield, you see a woman and her two kids, all dead. In 2005, there were an estimated 16,885 alcohol related fatalities in the U.S. That is over 39% of automobile related fatalities that year. On average, 254,000 people are injured in alcohol related wrecks in a year. After hearing these statistics, you can tell that drinking and driving is a huge issue in America. The dangers of drunk driving effect drivers of America every day. Not only do you have to be responsible enough to control yourself from drinking and driving, you also have to worry about other people that are drinking and driving. Even though you may not wreck while driving drunk, there are other risks involved. When driving while impaired by alcohol, it’s very easy for police officers to notice you. If you are even caught drinking underage, no matter where it is, you can be put on probation. If your caught drinking and driving underage, your running the risk of losing your license. I’m sure all of you agree with me when I say it wouldn’t be very cool to lose your license. In my opinion, losing the independence of driving is not...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...This is the subject I chose to write about Drinking and Driving in a Social Perspective. The main focus will be on heavy alcohol consumption, control over alcohol, and drinking and driving while under the influence. I know this from personal experience while suffering from alcoholism for more than 25 years and I have been arrested four times for driving under the influence. What I have learned from my convictions of driving under the influence that society has generally condemned socially as an immoral action of a single individual that deliberately risks the lives of innocent others. But on the other hand driving under this influence tends to be social accepted with in certain social groups, especially as long as it does not harm others and if arrest is avoided I think that is for the ones that choose to drink and drive. I think is my case when I did it drink and drive it was not a moral paradox because how can I condemn and succeed with the same action. I think from a society perspective that a DUI situates in a complex relationship between individual drinkers and their social life and society itself. What I mean by this is that on one hand I think is judicial unlawfulness and socially responsibility and harm. On the other hand, a DUI is often practiced in certain social groups without definite restraints, even though people feel that to drive in an intoxicated state is a criminal and morally reprehensible act and a very aware of the BAC limit of 0.5. This does not necessarily...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...Rudy Somers 4-24-15 Letter Of Intent Driving under the influence has been a troublesome thing for everyone; especially the younger ages being 16 to 25 year old die more and or get DWI (driving while intoxicated) Texas Department Of Public safety has announced that there have been more deaths of alcohol than any other disaster that has happened over the years this being, tornados, volcano’s, etc.…. I Wish to tell you and others the major consequences that have came from drinking and driving and hope to influence you to not do so because the outcome can be very dangerous and something that will stay with you for as long as you live this I promise you. In most countries, anyone who is convicted of injuring or killing someone while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs can be heavily fined in addition to being given a prison sentence. DUI and alcohol-related crashes produce an estimated $45 billion in damages every year. The first person to be arrested for drunk driving was one George Smith, a London taxi driver who ran his cab into a vehicle in 1897. In many cases when a driver is drunk there mind is not all there and they are slow and may have a reaction time up to 3 times slower than what they are originally are these people are careless and I believe should be removed from the world not death just serious punishment, these menaces have killed more than 12,000 people a year these...
Words: 298 - Pages: 2
...Underage Drinking and the its Effects on the Economy In America underage drinking has many negative effects on the United States economy. Underage drinking cost the United States economy because of injuries, and or deaths resulting from drinking. Other incidents that cost the United States economy money are traffic accidents, school failures, or even unwanted pregnancies. In total underage drinking coast the United States 4.7 million every hour, 105 million every day, and above 53 billion dollars annually. With underage drinkers starting at thirteen to fourteen, the United States has seen an impact form underage drinkers at colleges all across the nation. With that being said in one year, there were 1400 student deaths, 500,000 injuries, and 70,000 cases of sexual assaults. The Center of Alcohol and Substance Abuse says that about 25 percent of all the alcohol consumed in the United States is from underage drinkers. In many cases, underage drinkers will become addicted to alcohol after they have started to drink the substance. Considering that drinking is one of the three leading causes of deaths in America, besides suicide and homicide, the United States needs to become more aware of this deadly abuse. At least 10.7 million people throughout the Unites States, between the ages of 12 and 17 drink an alcoholic beverage before they reach the age of 21. With this being said, the consumption of alcoholic beverages...
Words: 270 - Pages: 2
...Society will often compare driving tired, and driving intoxicated because of their consequences on a person’s ability to drive. Nevertheless, driving tired isn’t established as a treat by media commercials as much driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances stances. Although, it caused 100,000 crashes, and 1,550 deaths in the year of 2005 .Individuals often refuse to comply with road recommendations, and underestimate the consequences of driving tired causing fatal accidents. A person who attempts to drink and drive can be prevented by friends and family, but a drowsy driver is difficult to be recognized. As a person who once went through this type of experience, I tend to talk to people about the seriousness of this problem. Driving is not as simple as it looks. It requires making hundreds of decisions and being aware of every possible danger. The ability of a person to drive is impaired by fatigue. Under these circumstances, the person behind the wheel is more likely to be part of a car accident. Drivers tend to fall asleep on the road, and cause terrible accidents. Not only do they put the passengers in danger, but also other people in the road. Falling asleep while driving is very common, especially for those whose lifestyle choices cause them to miss hours of sleep....
Words: 567 - Pages: 3
...Director From: Xxxx Date: May 20, 2012 Subject: Recommendation for campaign on drinking and driving I will try and address all the concerns sequentially. Since we have a tight budget, we do not have much space for trial and errors. Overall, driving most of the campaign online is a good idea. Also, collaborating with the colleges to help in our research will be helpful and less costly. Most of the concerns of the board member are valid. I would suggest an online questionnaire targeted at certain colleges as a cheap and effective solution for getting to know their mindset. Another suggestion would be to make it anonymous. Not tracking user information will allow for a more candid feedback. A carefully crafted questionnaire needs to be created for this. A suggestion box for possible ideas for the campaign from them can also be kept in the questionnaire. I agree with the concerns of the Social media specialist, targeting messages on websites like Facebook and Twitter is a good idea. Identify some of the most subscribed groups on Facebook. Create a Facebook page for our campaign. This page can be linked to those group pages identified before. This will allow us to post to multiple groups at once. Requesting some referral posts on our campaign from these Facebook groups is also a good idea. This will help in creating a better impact at minimal cost. I agree with the Marketing Director that driving the campaign online is a very good idea. As for the places where we can promote this...
Words: 423 - Pages: 2
...Drinking and driving can obviously get people in trouble with the law. Beyond the legal ramifications, it is also a dangerous thing to do. When someone drinks, the alcohol inhibits their ability to think clearly. It also slows down their reaction time. If something happens on the roadway, the driver is less able to react in time to prevent an accident. The Dangers of Drinking and Driving The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 112 million adults were drinking and driving in 2010. This means that those drivers had a blood-alcohol content that was higher than 0.08 percent. Many car accidents are caused by drinking. The brain is unable to process information normally. With an impaired mind and slower reaction times, people...
Words: 510 - Pages: 3
...Drinking, speeding and driving May 21, 2009 Objective Part: The topic I chose revolves around an announcement “Don’t be an ass, don’t drive” made by Kunhadi.org, an organization that supports and advices people to drive slowly without getting drunk, in order to avoid car accidents. In fact, this item managed to hold my interest since I am really concerned with awakening the public on the numerous numbers of accidents occurring a year. If truth be told, over 500 people in Lebanon die every year in car accidents mostly caused by drinking and exceeding speed limits. Additionally, more than 9000 accidents are taking place each year, which of course are no coincidence. Thus, convincing people to be cautious and watchful is, without a doubt, a requirement. Subjective part: As abovementioned, drinking too much along with driving too fast has already cost and threatened so many lives. As a matter of fact, many people, when being in nightspots, tend to drink an outsized amount of alcohol, and on their way home, become fatalities or sufferers of car accidents. Accordingly, in order to circumvent such dramatic catastrophes, I think that the government should place security forces in almost every region to catch and punish the persons who consumed an amount of alcohol greater than the tolerated average. Plus, as stated earlier, most of the people can’t stand driving behind cars motoring at a snail's pace. In reality, they tend to overtake them even if they had to exceed the speed...
Words: 376 - Pages: 2
...In 2013, Ethan Couch was sentenced two years behind bars after killing four people while he was drunk driving. Underage drinking and driving does not only put the driver in danger but it risks other people’s lives and it has been a major issue that our society has been facing for many years. Under the law it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to drive a motor vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol concentration level of 0.02% or higher, yet many teens make exception for themselves and decides to drive, and ends up getting into a deadly or very serious accidents which can cause to kill innocent people as well. Underage Drinking and driving is issue that has been underestimated by many people over the years and it is essential to...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...Two police officers knock on your door; informing you that your son had been hit and killed in a drunk driving incident. In society, today’s youth think they cannot have “fun” without consuming alcohol or being under the influence. Society has shown to revolve around parties, this leaving children in a vulnerable position to likely begin to drink at a young age. It is very likely for people who make these decisions to end up in an injury or even a fatality. People who are caught driving under the influence should have their driver's license revoked for a year. Ride-share services have been provided for the community, such as Uber, Lyft, and many others. A 2015 study by Temple University showed reduced rates of drinking and driving in cities...
Words: 753 - Pages: 4
...Drinking While Driving Car COMM/215 January 1, 2014 Drinking While Driving a Car Alcohol is directly responsible for the thousands of deaths and injuries on the roads each year. Drinking alcohol and driving basically do not go together. Alcohol affects alertness, and one’s ability to make fast choices on the road, respond to changes in the surroundings and implement specific, often difficult maneuvers behind the wheel. It is therefore very important for drivers to have a maturity to accept the responsibility of acquiring a license. Alcohol is obviously the highest contributing issue in serious and fatal vehicle crashes, and key issue in groups of vehicle crashes. Despite efforts to deter drunk driving, alcohol- related traffic fatalities still pose a grave and dangerous problem. Why people drink alcohol. . Many people who drink alcohol enjoy the taste of beer, wine, and other kinds of alcohol. Beside the test, people like ethanol because it can make them drunk. for others it is way of life. Many people drink alcohol to avoid the problems in their lives, or to loosen up so that they feel more relaxed or happy when they party. A person whose drinking surpasses the guidelines is at risk of adverse health effects. Damages Caused by the alcohol and the liver Liver is an important organ of the body. Even though this organ is responsible for breaking down alcohol, it is mostly susceptible to alcohol- associated injuries; thus the commonness of diseases of the liver and...
Words: 861 - Pages: 4
...Drinking and driving has long been a major issue in today’s modern world and has pretty much coincided a while after the car was invented. Driving impaired means driving while under the influence of alcohol. While alcohol without moderation is a cause for concern, driving while drinking is even worse. The amount of people who get injured or lose their lives is astonishing. Impaired drivers put both themselves and others at risk which why i’ll be arguing against drinking and driving. In this assignment i’ll be discussing what alcohol does to your body, how it affects your decision making and i’ll also be bringing up cases of people who lost their lives while impaired. Before we get into drinking and driving we need to go into...
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
...In my community drinking and driving has become a big issue. Many people drink and drive every weekend. People have to know that it is wrong, so why do people do it? There are many ways that accidents can be prevented from drinking and driving. We just need to think of ways that will stop people from drinking and driving and have an alternative for them to turn to. Caroline county is a small town with nothing to do. People have to drive thirty minutes at least out of their way just to keep themselves entertained. One option that we can do to stop people from drinking and driving would be to build a movie theater, everyone loves the movies. The movie theater would be a place for families, kids and teenagers to go, even a place for couples to go on dates. This would stop people from going to parties more and from drinking and driving. Another option could be a shopping outlet. It is something fun to do and everyone loves new clothes. The outlets could be open until eleven o’clock so then it would be too late for people to go out and drink. In the outlets there could be restaurants, nail places, clay bakers and an arcade so everything that a person needed would be right there in one spot. If we had a bowling alley in our community than people could get a group of friends together and be able to go midnight bowling. This would keep people from drinking and going to parties later. They could make just a teens night at the bowling alley and just an adults night. That way teenagers...
Words: 1270 - Pages: 6
