FREE ESSAY ON INTOXICATED DRIVERS

INTOXICATED DRIVERS

On 31 August 1997, Princess Diana died tragically in a car crash driven by a drunken
chauffer. Her death was shocking on several levels. It was violent. It sent those she had
touched through her charity work into heartbroken mourning, and saddened millions more
who had never met her but who had followed her troubled and sometimes troublesome life
with the intimacy that modern celebrity affords. This accident would not have happened if
the driver was not intoxicated by alcohol. The recent figures from Statistics Canada show
that there has been a 50% reduction from 1981 to 1996 in the number of Canadians being
charged with drunk driving. There is a lifelong sorrow for the relatives of the fatal
victims; moreover, there are astronomical costs, and problems for repeat offenders. Drunk
drivers cause more deaths, injuries, and destruction than all murderers, muggers,
rapists, and robbers combined. Every six hours, someone is killed by an impaired driver.
Every twenty minutes, someone somewhere in Canada becomes a victim to an impaired driver.
Every year, more than 45% of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol. More than 1.700
Canadians die each year as the consequence of intoxicated drivers. Tens of millions of
dollars are spent annually in court costs, rehabilitation, lost earnings, health care,
and social programs all because of drinking driving accidents. This money comes directly
out of the citizens' pockets in taxes and lost revenue. Transport Canada reports the
minimum loss to society as a result of road accidents involving alcohol as: $390,000 per
fatal accidents $310,000 per fatality $12,000 per injury accidents $3,600 per injured
victim Almost 30,000 Criminal Code license suspensions were issued in 1992 for drinking
driving related charges. Over one-half (59%) were repeat drinking driving offenses. Of
all suspensions issued for impaired driving, 65% were issued for a second or subsequent
offense. Crashes happen more often in summer than winter. Over two-thirds of the crashes
occur on weekends; one quarter of all crashes happens on Saturday. More than 66% of
drinking driving crashes happen between 1800hrs and 0300hrs. Every forty-five minutes in
Ontario, a driver is involved in an alcohol related crash. The profiles of these
perpetrators of this crime are 90% male in the 25-34 age category. People drink for many
reasons. It is a way to escape from pressure and stress. Also, it is a relief from
emotional and financial problems. Some people are pressured into drinking by their peers.
Drinking is a social aspect. It is an accepted practice in the business world. Some
solutions to reduce drinking driving problems are to lower the blood alcohol content
(BAC) for the Breathalyzer test. The government can increase the suspension of licenses
from a three-month period to a longer period such as one year. Repeat offenders should
receive a jail sentence. Lastly, our government should strongly increase the education
about alcohol abuse and the consequences of drinking and driving