Drinking And Driving

Writing this article for you was a pleasure, I hope it be likewise for your to read it.

There are many myths about drinking and driving. The first is that beer contains less alcohol content than other types of booze; therefore, it's ok to indulge. The truth is that your body may absorb beer a little slower, but one 12-ounce beer, one 4-ounce glass of wine and one mixed drink with 1/4 80-proof liquor have the same alcohol content. Therefore, it is no surprise that most binge drinking is done with beer. Secondly, some people think that drinking coffee, using the bathroom, eating something or taking a cold shower will "sober them up." Unfortunately, time is the only cure. Another myth is that alcohol has a universal effect, when, in reality, the effects of alcohol hit everyone differently depending on age, weight, food consumed, genes and other factors.

The drinking and driving statistics for 2005 were astounding. Roughly 1 million people were injured in drunken driving crashes that year. The NTSHA reported that 16,885 Americans died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 39% of all traffic-related deaths. Mothers Against Drunk Driving statistics show that the percentage jumped to 41% the following year. Additionally, the Department of Justice reported that another 1.4 million drivers were arrested for DUI or DWI.

In a survey done by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 159 million people admitted that they had been drinking and driving that year! Given these dangerous statistics, it seems that people are seriously underestimating the possible effects of alcohol on the road. Since alcohol consumption is known to physically impair judgment in the amygdala region of the brain, obscuring danger while simultaneously exciting the "reward center," we almost can't help ourselves. Therefore, the only way to resist the urge to just get in your car and go is to plan ahead with a designated driver or alternate form of transportation, set defined time and alcohol consumption limits for ourselves and learn your personal tolerance levels.

Of course, anyone who is drinking alcohol can be at risk for drinking and driving, although statistics show that certain demographics have a greater propensity to drink and drive recklessly. For instance, males are twice as likely to drive after alcohol consumption as females. Young people are also more likely to die in a drinking and driving accident (16% of motor vehicle deaths for kids age 16-20 were alcohol-related). The largest demographic for DWIs is young men aged 18-20. Many drivers involved in fatal crashes have had a prior conviction as well.

Each year, drinking and driving crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion. Some efforts to combat drug and alcohol abuse have been successful. For example, increased police enforcement/setting up sobriety checkpoints have helped deter law breakers. The zero tolerance law has been effective in targeting young drivers in some states. For some large festivals, a Ride Program is set up to give free (or at least affordable) transportation for attendees. Mandatory counseling for offenders is a good step toward recovery from alcoholism as well.

As of 2006, the NHTSA reports that more than half of the 414 child passengers, ages 14 and younger, who died in drinking and driving crashes during 2005, were riding with the drinking driver. Teens who grow up with binge drinking parents and who don't know their limitations are more susceptible to becoming alcoholics prior to the legal drinking age. A 2008 Modesto, California teen alcohol forum found that parents "drive kids to drink the most" and that most parents don't talk to their kids about drinking because they don't feel that the kids should be drinking at all. The best way to combat drinking and driving is to start at home with good parent-child relationships, experts say.

Thanks for reading my article I'm sure it was useful to you.

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