May 20, 2013
Topic: Drunk Driving
Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to inform audience of the dangers of drunk driving
Central Idea: Drunk driving is a reflection of poor judgment that impairs thought processes and moral behavior and could result in fatalities.
How many of you have ever heard of the acronym DUI? If you haven't, DUI stands for driving under the influence. It means that an individual has gotten behind the wheel of the car while having consumed alcohol. In the United States, about 30 people die each day from accidents involving drunk drivers; this means that there are 48 deaths every one minute (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). In 2010, 211 youth, ages 0-14 was killed in an accident in which the driver was alcohol impaired (Center for Disease and Control Prevention, 2013). Not only does drunk driving reflect poor judgment and cause damage, but it impairs thought processes and moral behavior and could result in fatalities.
Not only is drunk driving illegal, but it can cause some real damage. The legal age to use alcohol is 21, but drinkers are obligated by law to drink responsibly. The legal alcohol limit is 0.08% (Century Council, 2013). People who are under the influence of alcohol may have blurred vision and slowed reaction time (Impacts of Underage Drinking, 2010). They are unable to move quickly in rapidly changing situations such as hitting the brakes or slowing at a yellow light. Alcohol also makes one unable to judge car’s distance on the road. The driver cannot clearly see the position of other cars on the road. They may not be able to see road signs, or medians (Impacts of Underage Drinking, 2010). Also, drinking alcohol causes poor concentration and drowsiness (Impacts of Underage Drinking, 2010). It is easy for someone who is intoxicated to fall asleep at the wheel. Coordination while drinking is also impaired. The driver will most likely have poor hand, eye, and foot