DUI Traffic Safety
06. Jan, 2009 
4 Comments
Did you know that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that there were going to be some 2 million drivers on the road this past holiday season. Yes, that does seem like a relatively small amount, but that’s just the number of drivers with at least 3 DUI convictions. Drivers with multiple repeat offenses who continue to drive while impaired on the same roads as you, your family and friends.
While every state has laws about drunk driving it’s been determined by a survey of drivers convicted of DUI that there is no one deterrent to influence these drivers to cease drinking and driving. But researchers have concluded that these drivers are less likely to be on the road if they have the perception that they will be caught. They don’t drive if they think they may run into a sobriety check point because of they heard or read. The study, “The Behavioral Impact Of drinking And Driving Laws” was published in the December issue of Policy Studies Journal.
Editors Note. Even with the possibility of losing their license and jail time some people will never learn nor care. In a local incident a driver with over 10 DUI citations ran a stop light and killed an entire family. He is now appealing the conviction for that incident.
It is sad that the culture of drinking and riding is so deeply ingrained in the HD segment of the motorcycling fraternity. I very nearly lost my life in an alchol related motorcycle accident many years ago. I was sober but my riding partner was not. Rather than taking his key, and arranging for safe transport, I choose to lead him home on the back roads. We didn’t make it. I live in the state of Wisconsin. Sadly the tavern league has a strangle hold on the legislature. Penalties for drunk driving are not equal to the crime. Like Sam, I opened my local newspaper today to see that a women was being arraigned for her 8th drunk driving offense. Number three was recorded in October of 2008………. now in Jan 2009 she’s on number 8 ! Mention was made of taking a Motorcycle Saftey Foundation course in another post here recently. If you think that you can stop at the bar and have a drink without affecting your riding abilites, the MSF course material will open your eyes to reality. No one likes to be preached to, but if this saves one life I can live with being called names.
John K. Endrizzi
Good post, John.
Wish I could add something of value to the discussion.
I doubt that there is a single person untouched by the idiocy and horror of DUI. If not their own, then certainly they know people who have suffered greatly because of it. My worse incident was being one of the pall bearers for four members of a family of five that died in a collision with a drunk driver. The fifth family member was in the wreck but spent a year in hospital recovering.
I don’t know if my parenting skills really worked or if I am just lucky. My kids have yet to have to deal with poor drinking choices and poor riding/driving habits.
I have no idea how DUI continues to be socially acceptable while much less harmful activity gets way more attention?
As a society, everything that we have tried to rid ourselves of intoxicated idiocy hasn’t worked. So, are we that stupid or that poor at execution?
Drunk driving is something we all have to deal with and sadly many of us have probably done at one time or another. The penalty for DUI should be higher and maybe then more people would think twice about driving under the influence. In my own state the penalty is much stricter than some, but I still believe it should be a no toleration policy especially when others are involved.