Danger ahead: Don't drink and drive
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Opinion
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As the holiday season approaches, the weather changes and decorations go up on every block. People are busy thinking about gaining an extra five pounds and how to survive through Christmas without going into debt.
The holidays also mean more parties to attend and drinks to indulge in. As a result, the roads become a more dangerous place as people imbibe and then get behind the wheel. Now is the time to think twice before putting oneself and others at risk.
The facts don't lie. According to Mother's Against Drunk Driving, about three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. In other words, if the average college student were lined up with nine of his or her closest friends, chances are that at least three of them are at high risk of being injured or killed in an accident involving a drunk driver.
Unfortunately, if the driver of the other vehicle has been drinking, little can be done to prevent the accident. Drivers should always be cautious when driving late at night or in the early hours of the morning and should also avoid being on the road during long weekends and around holidays. According to MADD, drivers are five times more likely to be involved in alcohol-related crashes at night than during the day and three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes at night. Additionally drivers should watch for certain signs of intoxication (such as swerving between lanes) should be watched for and any vehicles exhibiting such behavior should be reported to the police.
College students are often at increased risk of being involved in DUI accidents because they are frequently put in situations where either they or those around them are drinking heavily. Binge drinking is defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams or above, a typical result of a man consuming more than four drinks and a woman consuming more than three drinks in a two-hour span. Additionally, about 90 percent of the amount of alcohol consumed by minors is consumed in the form of binge drinks. Eighteen-to-20-year olds make up 52.1 percent of binge drinkers.
The holidays also mean more parties to attend and drinks to indulge in. As a result, the roads become a more dangerous place as people imbibe and then get behind the wheel. Now is the time to think twice before putting oneself and others at risk.
The facts don't lie. According to Mother's Against Drunk Driving, about three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. In other words, if the average college student were lined up with nine of his or her closest friends, chances are that at least three of them are at high risk of being injured or killed in an accident involving a drunk driver.
Unfortunately, if the driver of the other vehicle has been drinking, little can be done to prevent the accident. Drivers should always be cautious when driving late at night or in the early hours of the morning and should also avoid being on the road during long weekends and around holidays. According to MADD, drivers are five times more likely to be involved in alcohol-related crashes at night than during the day and three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes at night. Additionally drivers should watch for certain signs of intoxication (such as swerving between lanes) should be watched for and any vehicles exhibiting such behavior should be reported to the police.
College students are often at increased risk of being involved in DUI accidents because they are frequently put in situations where either they or those around them are drinking heavily. Binge drinking is defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams or above, a typical result of a man consuming more than four drinks and a woman consuming more than three drinks in a two-hour span. Additionally, about 90 percent of the amount of alcohol consumed by minors is consumed in the form of binge drinks. Eighteen-to-20-year olds make up 52.1 percent of binge drinkers.