Drunk Driving Research Paper

How many times on the radio or television have you heard something about an accident that occurred involving an intoxicated driver? Probably an overwhelmingly high amount of times considering the increasing numbers of accidents due to drunk driving. This topic is a widespread issue that affects many lives, or even worse, ends them. According to Nolo.com, currently in our country, the punishment for drunk driving is up to six months in jail, depending on the state you live in and your blood-alcohol content at the time of the arrest, a fine ranging from $500 to $2,000, and getting your driver’s license suspended for a substantial amount of time. On one side of the debate, people believe that stricter laws for intoxicated driving will penalize
social drinkers and could have a negative economic effect on restaurants and bars.
However, it is absolutely critical that drinking while intoxicated should result in more severe consequences because it would re-enforce the rules of the road, keep the people who should not be driving off the road, and save many lives by improving the safety of innocent drivers.
The first reason that the DUI should have more stringent punishments for driving under the influence is because it would re-enforce the rules of the road and help people remember that they cannot drive while intoxicated. While it is often argued that having more severe laws will not make a difference and people will continue to drink and drive. One cannot deny, people may still continue to consume alcohol and drive and may not pay any attention to the laws. Nevertheless, it is extremely significant that the DUI has more rigorous punishments for driving under the influence because it will persuade people to not drink and drive because they do not want to pay the fine or go to jail and it will remind them that it is illegal and highly dangerous. For example, according to a quote in the article, “It's Time to Ditch America's Idiotic Open-Container Laws”, by Emily Shire, it cites, “It hadn't even occurred to me it was problematic what I was doing," says Epstein White.” Basically, this quote is explaining how having a tighter
grip on the laws related to drinking and driving and being more strict about it will help people come to their senses and realize that what they are doing is wrong. It could also influence them to follow the rules of the road. Additionally, according to Joan Lowy, a writer for the Associated Press, “The report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the share of drivers who test positive for alcohol has declined by more than three-quarters since the agency first began conducting roadside surveys in 1973.” In other words, this quote is describing how the use of stricter laws did in fact remind people that it is illegal to drink and drive because the number of drivers who tested positive for alcohol, decreased by more than three- quarters since they put in harsher laws. Lastly, as stated in Portland Press Herald, “Motorists won't get the message unless the state starts treating distracted driving like the serious offense that it is.” This vividly expounds how if the DUI has stricter punishments and more severe consequences, the drivers will listen, obey the laws, and get the message. Therefore, it is clear to see that the DUI should have more stern punishments for driving under the influence of alcohol because it would re-enforce the rules of the road and help people remember that it is highly illegal and dangerous to drive while intoxicated, causing them to not drink and drive.
The second reason that the DUI should enforce more rigid penalties and laws for drinking while intoxicated is because these new rules will keep the people who should not be driving due to their alcohol content off the road. Although, some people claim that even if the DUI puts in more forbidding laws that people who should not be driving will still go out and cause harm in other ways. Certainly, people who should not be driving may still go on the roads and not pay any mind to the laws. However, it is absolutely essential that the DUI administrates tougher punishments on drivers who have been drinking because these new rules will keep those who have had too much to drink off the roads, due to the deliberate punishments they may receive. For instance, according to Keith Humphreys, a writer for Wall Street Journal, “Legislators and judges have responded to repeat drunken drivers by trying to eliminate their driving--through incarceration, license suspension, ignition locks and vehicle impoundment.” This proves how the government wants the DUI to institute stricter laws because it will keep the dangerous drivers away from the road, which will resolve the issue at hand. Next, as reported by Dennis Romboy, a writer for Deseret News, “But when drunken drivers are pulled over in Utah, they face some of the toughest laws in the country.” This illustrates how the people in Utah who get pulled over for intoxicated driving face very harsh consequences. This also explains how if we enact these harsh consequences for the whole country, people who drank would stay off the road and the number of intoxicated drivers would decrease. Finally, just as Michael Rubinkam, a writer for Scranton Times, cited, “U.S. transportation officials call the National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drugged Driving, which has been conducted five times since 1973, a vital tool for monitoring the safety of America's roadways.” Basically, this is describing how strengthening the laws ensures and monitors the safety of the roads. This way, it will keep the people who are hazardous on the road, off the road. This would protect the safety of the rest of the people who are driving. All in all, it is easy to see the DUI should enact stronger laws and more severe consequences for driving while under the influence of alcohol because these new rules will keep the people who should not be driving due to their alcohol content off the road.
The final reason that the DUI should coerce sharper laws on drunk driving is because it will improve the safety of not only the driver and people in the car, but others around them.
This would decrease the number of deaths related to driving and alcohol and ensure safety for all. On one side of the debate, researchers state that people will illegally drink and drive by avoiding the laws or manipulating them. One cannot deny, people may still attempt to find ways to work around the laws. Despite this idea, it will be very difficult to work around the new laws because they will be very strict to ensure our roads are safe. It is absolutely critical that the DUI invokes more austere rules because it will protect the safety of everyone travelling and there will be less accidents related to drinking and driving, also, less deaths. Firstly, as reported by Lindsey Tanner, a writer for the Chicago Tribune, “Researchers analyzed 2000-10 government traffic deaths data and found 2,344 passengers younger than age 15 were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver.” This is showing how drunk driving has contributed to many deaths in our country. This also explains how if the DUI had more severe consequences for intoxicated driving, the number of deaths would decline and the roads would be much safer. Secondly, as stated in Maclean’s, magazine, “The rate of deaths caused by drunk driving are at the lowest level in 25 years; between 1995 and 2009, the latest statistics available, the number
of drunk-driving deaths fell by more than 500 annually.” This illustrates how when Canada enforced harsher laws on drunk driving, the rate of deaths went down a significant amount. This resulted in the roads being more secure. Finally, according to what Stephen Gray Wallace, a writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, “Among the key threats facing our kids are ones often overlooked, underplayed, or enabled by adults: alcohol use and its many negative ramifications, including impaired driving.” Basically, this is saying how drunk driving is a major hazard to not only drivers and adults who can drive, but even children. The new rules would not only protect drivers, but also, innocent kids. After all, it is apparent that the DUI should compel more demanding regulations regarding drinking and driving because it would protect and ensure the safety of all people, decreasing the deaths in our nation, and instituting a feeling of security on the roads.
In conclusion, Even though it is often argued that stricter laws for intoxicated driving will penalize social drinkers and could have a negative economic effect on restaurants and bars, It is obvious that The DUI should enact more severe punishments and regulations for intoxicated driving because it will improve the safety of all pedestrians on the road, keep unsafe drivers off the road, and re-enforce the rules of the road, refreshing those who have forgotten it is not okay to drink and drive. Maybe then, if the DUI enforces tougher consequences for drinking and driving, when you turn on the radio, accidents regarding intoxicated drivers will not be reported because of the new laws that were set up to protect our community from the dangers of alcohol.