Drinking and Driving



Drinking and Driving

Introduction

Today I would like to talk to you about the concerns of drinking and driving, and why it is a problem for all of us. There are three main reasons as to why you should never drive drunk. The reasons are: the penalties of drinking and driving, the accidents and potential dangers, and finally the problem of underage drinking and driving.

Analysis

I'd like to start off by talking about the penalties of drinking and driving. Did you know that drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime? Studies have found that 21 to 34 year olds make up approximately half of all the drunk drivers that are in alcohol-related fatal accidents. They are also responsible for more fatal accidents than any other age group, and seem to have the highest blood alcohol content. This is where the biggest problem is, considering that they are resistant to change their drinking patterns and behavior. About a third of all drivers arrested for DWI's are repeat offenders. Most people find that they can drink about one drink per hour without any ill effects. It is illegal for a bar or restaurant to serve an intoxicated person in all but four states. Nearly three out of four (about 72%) of the driving age think that penalties for drinking and driving should be more severe, and half of those think much more severe.

I would like to start out by telling you the story of Mariah Porter. On the night of August 8th, 1996, after finishing her shift at work, Mariah was on her way home. A 29-year-old female left the "beer garden" at the county fair around 11 PM. This girl had been there most of the night drinking. She managed to avoid the police and found her way through town in her Mercedes. Just outside of the city limits of town, she crossed the centerline and hit Mariah's '95 Neon, nearly head-on. Mariah's car was spun around and flipped on the drivers side and slid down and embankment, and came to a rest.

Mariah had tried to move to the shoulder, but the other car continued on to hit her. Mariah had her seat belt on and the air bags did deploy, but because of where the impact was the steering wheel went between the front seats so fast that the bag was of no use. Mariah's head ...