When Did Driving Drunk Become Illegal?
How to Stop Drunk Driving Before It Happens?
There are a variety of ways to stop drunk driving before it happens, including education, laws, and prevention. The most effective ways to prevent drunk driving and avoid a deadly crash are the ones that address the root causes of intoxication. The first step in stopping drunk driving is to recognize the signs of intoxication and act accordingly.
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Prevention
If you’re out on a date and you notice that your date is intoxicated, you can call the authorities to get them to take you home instead. This may help prevent the drunk driver from driving. Even if they don’t get behind the wheel, calling the police can save your life. A police officer can get the drunk driver to drive home or give them a warning.
Another way to avoid drinking and driving is to designate a sober driver ahead of time. When you’re under the influence of alcohol, your brain’s functions slow down, which makes it difficult for you to make good decisions. Assign someone responsible to drive you home or to take the bus. Keep contact information handy for your designated driver.
Laws
Drunk driving laws are in place to protect people and prevent accidents. These laws prohibit driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. It is also illegal for those under the age of 21 to drive with alcohol in their systems. These laws have saved the lives of thousands of people and have been effective in reducing drunk driving rates.
In addition to providing alternative transportation options for those who are impaired, drunk driving laws should not be restricted to holiday periods. Drink-driving occurs throughout the year. Increased police enforcement and mass media campaigns can be helpful during this time.
Infrared cameras
Infrared cameras monitor driver behavior and can detect if a person is unconscious, drowsy, or impaired. They can also alert the driver and automatically slow or stop the car if it is driving unsafely. However, there are some concerns about the use of such technology, as it may only annoy other drivers.
Despite the concerns of many motorists, this technology has already been used in several automobiles. Nissan and GM have already installed infrared cameras in their cars to detect drunken drivers. Depending on what the law says, these cameras will warn the driver and slow down the car if it detects signs of intoxication.
Education
Some programs try to prevent drunk driving through education, but the evidence of their effectiveness is limited. While everyone knows that drunk driving is dangerous, and we all agree that the police and courts should deal with it, the truth is that we can’t expect educational campaigns to change fundamental beliefs about alcohol. These beliefs are shaped by our social environment and can’t be changed simply by telling people not to drink and drive.
The best ways to prevent drunk driving are through a comprehensive approach that addresses the problem at many levels. For example, raising taxes on alcohol and increasing the drinking age are two important solutions. We must also increase our enforcement of laws against drunk driving. Fortunately, there are other strategies to reduce drunk driving, and these strategies should be part of every community’s plan to tackle the problem.
Public awareness
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in 2016. In that same year, 10,497 people died in traffic crashes related to drunk driving. These statistics are staggering, especially given that one person dies in an alcohol-impaired driving crash every 50 minutes. Furthermore, the statistics also show that the average drunk driver has driven drunk over 80 times before getting arrested. According to this information, the public needs to raise awareness and encourage motorists to use alternative transportation when possible.
A public education campaign targeting the driving behaviors of drivers who have consumed alcohol can effectively reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road. Studies show that drivers who have been driving under the influence of alcohol are more likely to speed, run red lights, fail to yield to pedestrians and fail to wear a seatbelt, all of which increase their risk of crashing. Mass media campaigns and mandatory driver education programs can also help reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths.