Drinking and driving should have harsher punishments

1
Drinking and driving should have harsher
punishments

• Rachel Hawley CIS 1055-611

2
Driving Under the Influence

• Driving Under the Influence is defined as
  operating a motor vehicle while impaired by
  alcohol, other drugs or intoxicating compounds.

• From the first drink, alcohol affects
  coordination, judgment, and slows a persons
  reaction time

• Once a person has reached a Blood Alcohol Level
  of .06 percent they are twice as likely to be
  involved in a fatal crash as a sober driver.
  Once the driver reaches a Blood Alcohol Level of
  .08 percent they are 11 times more likely to be
  killed in a single vehicle crash than a sober
  driver

3
Harsher punishments for Drunk Drivers

• DWI courts have been set up for hard-core repeat
  offenders who are suffering from alcohol
  addiction or alcoholism.
• Automatic revoking of the persons license
• Mandatory jail sentence
• Impounding or confiscating of license plates
• Vehicle impoundment or immobilization
• Electronically monitoring repeat DWI offenders

4
Many things affect how quickly a person can
become intoxicated!

• Gender
• Body weight
• Alcohol tolerance
• Mood
• Environment
• Amount of food consumed
• before drinking

5
Ways to prevent Drunk Driving

• Interlock devices that would prevent a
  intoxicated person from starting their vehicle
• Expanding alcohol server training programs
• Passing mandatory alcohol testing in fatal
  crashes
• Passing and enforcing bans on open containers in
  all states
• Involving drivers in identifying and reporting
  possible drunk drivers to the police
• Educating prospective drivers on the risks and
  hazards of drinking and driving and testing them
  on the subject in their drivers exams

6
Ways to protect yourself

• Dont drink and drive and dont ride with anyone
  who has had a drink
• About 20 of Americans killed in crashes
  involving alcohol were unfortunate passengers
• Volunteer to be the designated driver
• Always where a seat belt
• Use 4-lane highways whenever it is possible
• Avoid back roads
• Avoid travel after midnight, especially on
  Fridays and Saturdays
• Drive defensively
• Choose vehicles with air bags
• Never drive when fatigued
• Dont use a car phone, put on make-up, or eat
  while driving
• Steer clear of aggressive drivers

7
Ways to stay sober if you must drive

• Know your limit. Most people can have one drink
  an hour without feeling drunk.

• Eat food while drinking. Foods with a lot of
  protein help to slow the absorption of alcohol.

• Skip a drink. Having a non-alcoholic drink
  between alcoholic drinks can help keep your Blood
  Alcohol Level.

• Keep active. If you are active, you are usually
  more aware of how the alcohol is affecting you.

8
Ways to protect others

• Volunteer to be the designated driver
• Never condone or approve of excessive alcohol
  consumption
• Dont let your friends drink and drive
• Take their keys
• Have them stay the night at your house
• Have them ride home with someone else
• Call a cab
• Do whatever you have to do to make sure that they
  dont drive home

9
Alcohol Related Deaths in the US from 1995-2005
10
Works Cited

• "2005 Drunk Driving Statistics." Alcohol Alert.
  2007. KeRo Corporation World Headquarters. 6 Nov.
  2007 lthttp//www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-st
  atistics.htmlgt.
• "Alcohol Problems and Solutions." 6 Nov. 2007
  lthttp//www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrinkingAndDrivi
  ng.htmlgt.
• Driving Under the Influence. 6 Nov. 2007
  lthttp//library.thinkquest.org/23713/frameset.html
  gt.
• "Driving Under the Influence." Cyber Drive
  Ilinois. 6 Nov. 2007 lthttp//www.cyberdriveillinoi
  s.com/publications/dui/section1.htmlgt.