As most of you may know I have
spent a great deal of my time trying to figure out a way that we could
effectively address drunk driving now. I know that we made advances in
technology that will one day make it impossible to drive drunk. With that on
the horizon we know that one day this crime will be completely eradicated and
no one will ever suffer injury or death to it again. But for now we must deal
with it, and if we are to do that we must start by changing its perception. And
by that I mean that we need to have people to see it for what it is.
Right now
the image that comes to mind of a drunk driver is of someone who is totally
plastered and can barely walk or form intelligible sentence. It’s that guy or
gal that we think is posing a danger to us all and the reason the police are
out stopping those that can handle their drink. Most people who drink will
never see themselves as a danger to others or even themselves because of that perception.
Well the truth is that people that drink then choose to drive are the ones that
are posing a danger to us all. It doesn’t take for you to be plastered to be
that crazy that most people stay home to avoid after dark or on weekends. For example
in a recent article titled “Manassessed 15-year term for drunk-driving death” by Craig Kpitian on Mysa.com,
about Rene Cavazos who pleaded no contest to the charge of intoxication manslaughter
for the death of Julian Hernandez. Mr. Cavazos was quoted as saying "… I hope one day they see I wasn't out
there in a drunken stupor.” And then he continued “I didn't think I made a bad choice… I felt okay."
These two statements exemplify the current view
that people have about driving drunk. That it’s okay to drive as long as you’re
not falling over or staggering when you head for the door. A while back the NHTSA launched a campaign to
get people to realize this, that buzzed driving is drunk driving. I don’t know
how effective it was but I know that it opened some eyes. It’s a great campaign;
the problem is getting the public to change their mindset on what driving drunk
really is. Let’s start with what "Intoxicated" means according to the
(A) not having the
normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of
alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two
or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body; or
(B) Having an alcohol
concentration of 0.08 or more.
This is what the “I” in DWI means,
that anyone who is not their normal selves because of alcohol or drugs is
considered intoxicated. This includes that relaxed warm and happy feeling and you’re
not so shy. Then the feeling of being really relaxed and throwing caution to
the wind and this is what most people feel after a drink or two.
So when an officer stops you and
ask if you been drinking and you tell him a drink or two are you really your
normal self. The truth is your not, and
if you get behind the wheel and drive, you are now driving while intoxicated or
as we usually call it driving drunk. Even if you think you’re not. So how do we
get people to change the way they think about drinking and driving, well one at
a time. It start with you, what you now know you pass it on. One person at a time we can bring change to our
state. We can start by sharing this or something like it.
“Dear friends you are a valuable
part of this life and to everyone around you. As you know life is unpredictable
and to lose you would be devastating, so I am asking you to do this one thing
for us all and that is never drink and drive.”
It may sound corny but in most cases it is
true, our family and friends play an integral part of our lives. It's important
for us to speak up when it comes to the safety of those around us after all we
are all neighbors in this world we live in.
Remember when it comes to drinking responsibility
does matters and everyone must do their part to be safe. So before you go take
a minute and go back up and take a look at the two letter word that sits at the
end of section A. and before the beginning of section B. of the Texas penal
Code: Sec. 49.01.2. It is that little word “OR” that tells us what intoxicated
is. It’s not “and” or “if” but the
little word “or” that tells you that you are that drunk driver. Now you know so
pass it on.
No comments:
Post a Comment