From an early age, we are all given information about the dangers in the world. We know that stove burners are hot, wild animals should stay in the wild and that we need to look both ways before crossing the street. Once we learn those lessons, we get even more information about the risks around us, and how we can become those risks if we do not watch our choices in life. Drunk driving, of course, is a top example of a choice that has plenty of risk and danger involved. So, the lessons about NOT drinking and driving are imperative to know, despite how many times we have heard them.
Drunk driving is risky because:
- You could damage someone’s property.
- You could damage your own property.
- You could injure yourself if you have an accident.
- You could injure others if you have an accident.
- You could die.
- You could kill someone else.
It seems pretty straightforward, but, even with those simple truths about drunk driving, too many people continue to take the risk. Eight percent of drivers admitted to being intoxicated behind the wheel in a 2008 NHTSA survey, and while that may not seem like a large number of people, it only takes one drunk driver to change our personal worlds, forever.
With consequences like ignition interlock devices, substance abuse treatment and pro-active measures to stop further drunk driving incidents, we are seeing a reduction in the number of drunk drivers on the road. However, before those measures are taken, we can all use a refresher lesson on the risks of drunk driving and eliminate the chance that we would have to face any of those drunk driving consequences in our lives. The most common risks of drunk driving may be obvious to most, but, it is the common solution for drunk driving (driving responsibly) that is clearly the lesson that bears repeating.
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