Drunk Driving

[heystacy]

Ok, an hour before I get home there was an accident outside my appartment. The driver (I am told drunk) was on the road, lost control of his vehicle, and plowed into my neighbor's car. He hit the car so hard that the car is totaled. That damage can't be fixed. I was lucky, as the towing company told me that if my car was there it would have been destroyed too.

The driver, as I am told, can't feel his legs, and was rushed to the ER. I am so sad for my neighbor, as because of this idiot she has to suffer. Its a good thing no one was out there, but if I was home, the closeness of the accident would have freaked me out. Literally this happend at my doorstep. Never mind I wouldn't have a car.

It is very easy for reckless people to seal the security of your home, and saftey.

[Jack Zodiac]

When I lived in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, some guy was driving home drunk down some backroads, drove off the road through an orchard, and plowed right into this family's front porch. Guy lived, some broken ribs and stuff, but still...

Drunk drivers piss me off, because at that point you're not just endangering yourself, you're putting every single person on the road (and off, apparently) at risk, too. One of the biggest douchebag moves someone can make.

[Larry Dixon]

The reason I never finished my degree at SCAD was because of the long recovery from a drunk driver hitting me and a fellow SCADie at high speed just outside Atlanta.

Long story made short.

As a firefighter, my experiences cleaning up the devastation from drunk drivers are unforgettable.

[heystacy]

Larry, I empathise. My brother was in an accident with a drunk driver. The thing was that guy was plastered. He knew he should have not been behind the wheel. His vechicle was a weapon. Its still taking its toll on my brother who had to sit on the sidelines trying to recoperate.

I am glad I wasn't here to experience the actual event, but still that lack of responsibility drivers take when drunk, and the fact it could have happened when I was home has me sincerely bothered.

[heystacy]

When I lived in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, some guy was driving home drunk down some backroads, drove off the road through an orchard, and plowed right into this family's front porch. Guy lived, some broken ribs and stuff, but still...

Drunk drivers piss me off, because at that point you're not just endangering yourself, you're putting every single person on the road (and off, apparently) at risk, too. One of the biggest douchebag moves someone can make.

These drivers think they can handle it, or that they are invincible. It only takes one slip up, and someone's life is gone. I agree drunk drivng is a total douchebag move.

[Cam63]

I never get used to hearing or reading about stupid bastards who think they can get on the piss and drive.

More of 'em need to lose their driving privileges for good.

[SamuraiJack]

Sadly, revoking privileges doesn't mean squat in the US. I've got a fair share of acquaintances who have had suspended licenses that drive to work, to the store, hell- even to the bar! And they just don't care. If they want to go somewhere, instead of doing the responsible thing and calling a friend or a cab, they drive.

I've got a close friend who had some troubles with that, but after I threatened him with physical violence if he ever did it again (after I picked him up from jail) he doesn't go out imbibing without me. Since I'm not a drinker (maybe one beer in the span of 6-8 hours) I'm the perfect DD!

[Rob on the Job]

I agree with the antipathy here toward drunk drivers, but ...

I'd like to throw something else out there.

A few years ago, I took a defensive-driving class to reduce my insurance premium. The instructor was not only one of the most renowned such teachers in my part of the state, but also was the leader of the county Stop-DWI Committee.

The instructor said something I'll never forget: As bad as drunk driving is, a problem just as widespread is drivers who take to the road with sleep-deprivation or just plain inattentiveness.

In other words, there are drivers out there who are just as dangerous as drunks, because they get behind the wheel knowing they are tired and likely to doze with eyes open, or who get behind the wheel and concentrate on everything but driving.

The problem is, the instructor continued, while you can slap a breathalyzer on someone and find they've been drinking, there is no device to measure if someone got enough sleep. As a result, drunk drivers are specially penalized [and rightly so] for their actions, yet sleepy/inattentive drivers are not -- even though they are as dangerous to other drivers/pedestrians as drunks.

I know this is not a popular or comfortable view, but it is something to ponder.

[hellokittykat]

I've seen too much of the damage that drunk driving causes.

[TomStillwell]

Years ago my fiance was killed by a drunk driver working on his second DUI.

I hope there is a special place in hell for drunk drivers.

[hellokittykat]

Years ago my fiance was killed by a drunk driver working on his second DUI.

I hope there is a special place in hell for drunk drivers.

My God Tom I'm so sorry!:(
I've worked on children who's parents had them wait in the car while they boozed up at the bar and then drove, or attempted, to drive home drunk and injured everyone.

[Ryan Day]

The instructor said something I'll never forget: As bad as drunk driving is, a problem just as widespread is drivers who take to the road with sleep-deprivation or just plain inattentiveness.

Very true. My father worked an early-morning shift for a long time, and for a while he had an hour-long commute on the highway to get to work. He'd been doing it for ages, so he never had any problems. But one morning, some guy behind him fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into the back of his car. Absolutely totalled the rear end of the car - anyone sitting in the back seat probably would have been seriously injured or killed - though miraculously my father got away with just some scratches and bruises.

[Rob on the Job]

Very true. My father worked an early-morning shift for a long time, and for a while he had an hour-long commute on the highway to get to work. He'd been doing it for ages, so he never had any problems. But one morning, some guy behind him fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into the back of his car. Absolutely totalled the rear end of the car - anyone sitting in the back seat probably would have been seriously injured or killed - though miraculously my father got away with just some scratches and bruises.

Glad your father got away with only minjor injuries, Ryan. He was lucky.

And the emergence of cell phones is just one more distraction drivers don't need.

New York State has banned the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers -- in fact, I think it was the first in the nation to do so -- but it is a law that is not enforced with great vigor.

I wish I had a dollar for every time that a driver talking on a cell phone failed to yield the right of way or blew through a traffic stop.

Drunk-driving still is the worst offense, but non-drinking jerk behavior has to rank right up there, too.

[TomStillwell]

Chicago has banned the use of cell phones while driving unless it is handsfree.

I wish they would enforce it more. I see people doing it all the time.

[heystacy]

Chicago has banned the use of cell phones while driving unless it is handsfree.

I wish they would enforce it more. I see people doing it all the time.

In Savannah cell phones are attached to peaple's heads. I think they are veryy irresponsible, as many can't even stay on their side of the road.

[heystacy]

I agree with the antipathy here toward drunk drivers, but ...

I'd like to throw something else out there.

A few years ago, I took a defensive-driving class to reduce my insurance premium. The instructor was not only one of the most renowned such teachers in my part of the state, but also was the leader of the county Stop-DWI Committee.

The instructor said something I'll never forget: As bad as drunk driving is, a problem just as widespread is drivers who take to the road with sleep-deprivation or just plain inattentiveness.

In other words, there are drivers out there who are just as dangerous as drunks, because they get behind the wheel knowing they are tired and likely to doze with eyes open, or who get behind the wheel and concentrate on everything but driving.

The problem is, the instructor continued, while you can slap a breathalyzer on someone and find they've been drinking, there is no device to measure if someone got enough sleep. As a result, drunk drivers are specially penalized [and rightly so] for their actions, yet sleepy/inattentive drivers are not -- even though they are as dangerous to other drivers/pedestrians as drunks.

I know this is not a popular or comfortable view, but it is something to ponder.

I have heard of people falling asleep at the wheel. The consequences have been dire.

The botom line falls on responsibility. I was told the person who caused the accident, in my case was 19 and the car was a christmas gift. :eek:

He doesn't have a single excuse for what he did.

[Typo Lad]

NYC had a law that may or may not still be on the books where anyone found driving drunk had their car impounded.

[Rob on the Job]

NYC had a law that may or may not still be on the books where anyone found driving drunk had their car impounded.

I think that law is now statewide, Typo.

Whether you're drinking or sleepy or talking on your cell phone or putting on makeup or scarfing down a sub or speeding like a madman -- you are a danger to everyone else when you get behind the wheel and you are not focused 100-percent on what you are doing.

I don't know what I would be capable of if my daughter were killed in an accident that was not her fault.

[Shonzi]

As a counselor who runs a DUI class I think it is important to point out that there is a difference between someone who is a chronic drunk driver and someone who has gotten a DUI once.
Most DUIs are given to people who aren't any different from "normal" people. Most people who drink at all find themselves in situations where they think they can make it home fine in spite of being over the limit. The BAC limit is extrodinarily low (not that there is anything wrong with that). It doesn't take any kind of tremendous mistake to misjudge ones ability to drive after a few beers.
Before I took over the group I used to go meet friends at the bar and i'd just stop drinking an hour before i had to go anywhere and i used to tell myself that was ok, which it is not, i'd have still been over the limit. So i dunno, i have a hard time chastising them when i've made the same mistakes.

[Lester C.]

I agree with the antipathy here toward drunk drivers, but ...

I'd like to throw something else out there.

A few years ago, I took a defensive-driving class to reduce my insurance premium. The instructor was not only one of the most renowned such teachers in my part of the state, but also was the leader of the county Stop-DWI Committee.

The instructor said something I'll never forget: As bad as drunk driving is, a problem just as widespread is drivers who take to the road with sleep-deprivation or just plain inattentiveness.

In other words, there are drivers out there who are just as dangerous as drunks, because they get behind the wheel knowing they are tired and likely to doze with eyes open, or who get behind the wheel and concentrate on everything but driving.

The problem is, the instructor continued, while you can slap a breathalyzer on someone and find they've been drinking, there is no device to measure if someone got enough sleep. As a result, drunk drivers are specially penalized [and rightly so] for their actions, yet sleepy/inattentive drivers are not -- even though they are as dangerous to other drivers/pedestrians as drunks.

I know this is not a popular or comfortable view, but it is something to ponder.


I see you point but don't agree with you. Who isn't tired after working, working out, etc. By your definition people should only try after they first wake up and that's it. There are plenty of people who work nights and never have been in an accident once. I don't think its fair to lump them in with people who drink and drive.

[singoalla]

There's a bigger problem behind drunk driving: lack of education. Well, driver's ed, and focus on responsible driving in particular.
One of my cousins lost her boyfriend, aged 16, because he and his friends thought it'd be cool to go racing at 3 am. They borrowed his dad's car and off they went, wrapped themselves around a tree.
Drunk of course.
Funny thing is, the parents had no idea they'd been doing this regularly until they got a call from the police and hospital. Teens should NOT be driving at all, in my opinion. Driver's ed is not strict enough, and parents seem not to take too much interest.
And the kids who do survive their sins of youth grow up thinking they're invincible and that one beer is fine, or maybe two or three. There's a circle there: Bad habits as a kid, bad habits as an adult, pass it on and so on.

I hope that made sense. This is just upsetting is all.

Tom, I'm very very sorry for your loss.

[heystacy]

Spoke with my neighbor. She says the driver actually passed out while driving. This is his second DUI. :mad: What's wrong with this guy. One bust wasn't enough? :mad:

[Lester C.]

Spoke with my neighbor. She says the driver actually passed out while driving. This is his second DUI. :mad: What's wrong with this guy. One bust wasn't enough? :mad:

That's the nature of addiction. You know what you are doing is going to have grave consequences and yet you do again and again and again.:eek:

[Red Berens]

Are you guys ready for this? In my state ( Colorado ), the state and federal governments give grant money to police departments to pay for increased DUI patrol and enforcement. Last year, we and other departments were so successful in our enforcement, that we saw a dramatic decrease in the number of roadway fatalities. In fact, this has been the lowest we've seen since 1992.

Now here's the kicker: Since fatalities are so low, the state and federal governments aren't going to give us as much grant money to continue our increased enforcement. If the fatality rate goes back up, then we can have more money.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

[Lester C.]

Are you guys ready for this? In my state ( Colorado ), the state and federal governments give grant money to police departments to pay for increased DUI patrol and enforcement. Last year, we and other departments were so successful in our enforcement, that we saw a dramatic decrease in the number of roadway fatalities. In fact, this has been the lowest we've seen since 1992.

Now here's the kicker: Since fatalities are so low, the state and federal governments aren't going to give us as much grant money to continue our increased enforcement. If the fatality rate goes back up, then we can have more money.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

That part of your job must suck. You guys are the ones that are there in the aftermath of DUI accidents. Its hard to imagine more important or more grusome police work.

[heystacy]

That's the nature of addiction. You know what you are doing is going to have grave consequences and yet you do again and again and again.:eek:

Being from SC, which has high DUI violations, I know that many people will drive without a license. Sad, but true. Other people have family members to bail them out, without getting any real consequence. This young man simply doesn’t get it. He could have killed someone, or himself. He is luck all he did is damage vehicles.