Drinking And Driving In The United States



Drinking and Driving in the United States
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    In 2007, it is reported that 31.6 percent of the 41,059 traffic fatalities occurred in crashes in which at least one driver or non occupant had a BAC of 0.08 or greater. Alcohol-related crashes cost the public more than $50 billion yearly. It has become such a problem that groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) were founded to educate the public about the effects of drinking and driving.
    Drinking and Driving in the United States is a big issue. With groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and SADD (Students against Destructive Decisions), there is valuable information out there to help aid us in bringing down the crash fatalities that involve intoxicated drivers. Studies show that most crash fatalities involve male drivers aged 25-35. Now that high school students are being supplied with alcohol, under aged kids are now at risk of being in a fatal crash involving alcohol.
    One of the main causes of driving drunk is peer pressure. Young adults and teens alike could be affected by peer pressure. When a friend or a classmate pressure they are more likely to show off for their friends and drink only to get behind the wheel even though they know they are in no condition to drive. It is situations like these that put younger drivers at risk more than adults. Most do not know their alcohol tolerance limit. Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Getting behind the wheel of your vehicle while intoxicated is a factor in 38% of fatal crashes, and 7% of all crashes. Alcohol played a part in over thirty-three percent of all fatal motor vehicle accidents that involved people between the ages of 15-20. Alcohol influence is pasted all around us, whether we pass it on the high way, hear it on the radio, or see it on TV. We...