Drunk Driving Persuasive Speech

Persuasive Speech Outline General purpose: To persuade.
Specific purpose: At the end of my speech my audience will identify 2 consequences of drinking and drunk driving, and also 2 safe ways you can avoid those consequences.
Central Idea: Drunk driving is against the law and it causes harm to many people, but with the right precautions, many lives can be saved.
Introduction
Imagine receiving a call from a police officer telling you that there’s been a terrible accident due to a drunk driver, and they need you to come in and identify a body. We all know that drunk driving is a serious thing that has killed many, but yet some still choose to get behind the wheel and endanger not only themselves, but the others that are on the road. Just think, how would you feel if you were to receive that
horrific call? Many of people have unfortunately received this phone call and lost a loved one due to some stupid decisions. I myself have been through this experience. I lost my uncle to a drunk driver. He was riding his motorcycle one night, when a lady who had been drinking earlier that night, crashed into him causing him to fly off of his motorcycle and into a wall. The pain that my family went through was unbearable, and unfortunately many other families have gone through the experience. Whether you’re the person drinking and driving, or you’re a victim of another person’s inconsiderable actions, it’s a problem that is much too common. I’m here today to talk to you about what drinking does to you and your health, the dangers of getting on the road while drinking, and some ways you can ensure the safety of yourself and others (if you do decide to drink). There are multiple ways to avoid going from a fun night out, to a deadly night that you’ll never forget.
Body
I. What does drinking do to your mental and physical health?
A. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol affects many parts of your body.
1. Along with the blackouts and memory impairment, alcohol affects the way the brain works, which changes mood and behavior.
a. This alteration makes decision making harder, which makes driving harder.
2. Drinking in excess, causes multiple problems to your heat, such as: cardiomyopathy, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, or even result in a stroke.
3. Heavy drinking also causes problems to your liver, such as swelling or your liver.
4. Drinking increases your chances of developing liver, mouth, throat, and other types of cancer.
5.
Alcohol damages and weakens one of the most important parts of your body, your immune system.
a. “Consuming a lot of alcohol in one occasion slows down your immunes system, even up to 24 hours after getting drunk” ("Alcohol 's Effects on the Body."). B. Alcohol is also high in calories, which causes weight gain.
C. Many think that alcohol helps relieve stress and helps in difficult situations, but it actually increases your chances of developing mental problems.
1. Overuse of alcohol often causes depression, anxiety or even bipolar disorder (Saisan).
Transition: Now of course if it’s causing changing your judgment, driving is an absolute no!
II. Every time you get behind the wheel while drinking, you risk your life, and those around you.
A. “Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually” (“Impaired Driving”).
B. “In 2012, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes - one every 51 minutes” (“Impaired Driving”).
C. “Among drivers with BAC levels of 0.08 % or higher involved in fatal crashes in 2010, more than one out of every 3 were between 21 and 24 years of age” (“Impaired Driving: Get the
Facts”).
Transition: Now the last thing I’m going to talk about, which in my opinion is the most important, is how to avoid anything dangerous happening to you or anyone else.
III. It would be unreasonable to ask people to not drink at all, but just take precautions if you do plan of having a drink or two.
A. If you’re going out with a group of friends, assign the designated driver position to a friend that is okay if he/she doesn’t drink that night.
B. If you’re by yourself and you’ve been drinking, call a trusted person to come pick you up. C. Never get in a car with someone who has been drinking. 1. Offer to drive, if you haven’t had anything to drink. D. Be very careful and observant while driving, even if you haven’t been driving.
Conclusion
Now that I’ve talked about the harm that drinking does to your health, the dangers of driving while drinking, and ways to ensure your safety; I hope this encouraged you to be careful and be smart enough to never get behind the wheel while driving, or even get inside of a car with someone who is drinking and driving. Some people don’t realize how their actions can affect those around us, and that is why we still have, to this day, people dying from an accident that could have been avoided. There are plenty of people that care about each and every one of you, so please don’t risk your entire life, for a couple of shots and a good night. Works Cited
"Alcohol 's Effects on the Body." National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 July 2014. .
"Impaired Driving." National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Usa.gov, n.d. Web. 31 July 2014. .
"Impaired Driving: Get the Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 01 Aug. 2014. .
Saisan, Joanna, M.S.W., Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanna Segal, Ph.D. "Substance Abuse & Mental Health." Helpguide.org. Helpguide.org, n.d. Web. 30 July 2014. .