The Need for Stricter Drunk Driving Laws

The US government strives to ensure that its citizens are safe on the road. One of the measures that have been adopted to ensure road safety is outlining the maximum blood alcohol content that motorists may not exceed. This and other measures seem ineffective given the high number of deaths that are reported on American deaths. As many as 10,000 people die every year as a result of drunk driving. 1 In a response to this shocking statistic, the National Transport and Safety Board has suggested that stricter drunk driving laws be implemented. The organization has particularly called for the government to lower the blood alcohol content from 0.08 to 0.05. 2 It hopes that the implementation of this recommendation will reduce the fatalities and incidences of drunk-driving accidents. There is clearly a need for the United States to enact stricter laws to combat drunk driving. This paper defends this position by shedding light on the cost of drunk driving. 

The high number of deaths resulting from accidents caused by drunk drivers is the best argument to support the calls for stricter laws to be enacted to tackle drunk-driving. The United States has historically grappled with the challenge of drunk-driving. In 2000, 16,653 Americans died in drunk-driving accidents. 3 This figure represents 40% of all deaths caused by road accidents. The figure translates to 45 deaths occurring every day throughout the year. There has been an encouraging decline in the number of fatalities. The number stands at around 10,000. Despite the decline, this number is still significant. For how long will innocent Americans continue to die unnecessarily on the roads? The government needs to intervene and end the madness caused by drunk drivers. It should adopt harsher penalties that are imposed on those found to be drunk-driving. There are no guarantees that the stricter laws will eliminate all crash fatalities. Still, the stricter laws hold the promise of providing Americans with assurances that American roads are safer. 

As noted earlier, the high number of facilities is indication that the laws that are currently in place are ineffective. Were it that the laws were effective, far fewer deaths would be being reported. Another indication that the laws do not work is the fact that those caught driving while drunk continue to drive. Between 50 and 70% of drivers whose licenses have been suspended continue to drive. 4 This is the very definition of impunity. These drivers place their own lives and those of other road users at great risk. The fact that they continue to drive despite suspension of their licenses serves to strengthen the argument that the United States needs to adopt stricter rules. Instead of merely suspending their licenses, they could receive jail sentences. Spending time in jail is likely to scare them into obeying rules and commit to drive only when they are sober. The policy makers need to move with speed and enact stricter laws if American motorists are to be shielded from the recklessness of drunk drivers. 

Not all road accidents involving drunk drivers result in death. There are those who escape with injuries. It is believed that for every two minutes that pass, at least one individual has sustained injuries in an accident blamed on a drunk driver. 5 The pain endured by the injured does not match the death that befalls accident victims. However, this does not make their pain any less deserving of attention and respect. These individuals incur huge amounts as they seek treatment. Additionally, their lives are disrupted as they undergo treatment. The example of an individual who is the sole provider for his family can be considered. This individual sustains life-threatening injuries in an accident caused by some drunk fool. With this individual incapacitated, who will provide for his family? The government is the only source of hope for the thousands of families who worry that their members will be injured in road accidents. The American legislature needs to respond to these families and create new laws that introduce severe penalties on drunk drivers. These drivers deserve to suffer for the untold pain, anxiety and worry that they cause American families. Perhaps by suffering pain, they will be able to recognize the error in their actions and will become more responsible in their driving. 

The cost of drunk-driving accidents mostly takes a financial form. As already mentioned, families spend huge amounts in the treatment of injured members. The cost goes beyond the financial demands. Mental and emotional costs are the other types of costs incurred by victims and their families. 6 The families endure distress and intense pain especially if they lose a member to drunk driving. Trauma is also experienced as the pain of loss stays with the victims and their families for years. The perpetrators also suffer some level of anguish. This anguish results from the accusations that they face and the stress that comes with being involved with the criminal justice system. All this pain is unnecessary and avoidable. It appears that humans are simply unable to act in their best self-interest. The government needs to remind Americans that drunk-driving is dangerous for the drunken driver and other motorists. The best way to do this would be by enacting new laws which impose very heavy and harsh penalties on offenders. These laws hold the promise of sparing American families the anguish that is caused by drunk-driving. 

Individual victims bear the brunt of drunk driving. This is not to say that they are the only parties who suffer. The entire American nation shares in the cost of drunk driving. It is estimated that every year, drunk driving costs the United States a whopping $132 billion. 7 This amount includes the health insurance costs incurred in providing treatment and the increased taxes that the government is forced to levy on American citizens to meet the costs resulting from accidents caused by drunk drivers. Drunk drivers also cause damage to property. 8 The nation incurs huge costs as it either repairs or replaces the property. These costs can easily be avoided when drivers conduct themselves responsibly on the road. However, since it appears that the drivers are unable to be responsible without external influence, the government should introduce tougher laws. These laws could take the form of higher fines or longer jail sentences. The laws could impose heftier penalties for accidents that have caused deaths. It can be expected that the new tougher laws will provide drivers with incentive to behave responsibly. The United States will report significantly lower incidences of drunk-driving accidents. 

Law enforcement officials usually respond to drunk-driving incidences by arresting the perpetrator. While the arrests yield some result, they are not effective in discouraging individuals against driving while drunk. In 2014, the officials made 1.1 million arrests across the United States. 9 While this figure may appear huge, it is only a small proportion of the number of drunk-driving cases. It is believed that 121 million cases of drunk-driving occurred in the same year. 10 The fact that only a small fraction of drunk drivers are ever arrested suggests that the laws that are in place are not effective deterrents. The nation needs to adopt tougher laws that scare Americans into ensuring that they are always sober when they get behind the wheel. Unless these laws are enacted and enforced, law enforcement officials will continue to be overwhelmed by the high number of drunk-driving incidences. The ultimate result of this is that American roads will become more dangerous and will continue to pose a threat to American motorists. 

An overwhelming majority of victims of drunk-driving accidents are adults. Children are also involved in these accidents. In 2014, 209 children lost their lives as a result of the recklessness of drunken motorists. 11 Children are among vulnerable groups that require special protection. They lack the voice that would allow them to demand an end to the carnage that characterizes American roads. Apart from children, teenagers are the other special group that is affected by drunk-driving. Unlike children who are victims, most teenagers are perpetrators. In 2013, it was reported that 9.9 million teenagers and young adults drove while drunk. 12 The government needs to intervene and protect these groups. It can do this by enacting legislation that stipulates stiffer penalties that are imposed on drivers who are caught operating vehicles while drunk. 

One of the factors that have facilitated drunk-driving is the notion that driving while drunk is normal and acceptable. Many Americans do not find fault in drivers who drive while drunk. 13 This reality can be blamed on the entertainment industry that has for years promoted irresponsible drinking. The laws that are being enforced today seem to have done little to make it clear that drunk-driving is dangerous and unacceptable. Evidence for this lies in the millions of Americans who drive while drunk despite understanding that drunk-driving is outlawed. The government needs to reiterate the fact that it does not entertain drunk-driving. Enacting stricter laws will allow the government to send a message to individuals who tend to drive while drunk that tough action will be taken against them. It can be expected that the tougher laws will inject some sobriety and common sense into the minds of Americans who fail to recognize the danger in driving while intoxicated. 

The National Highway Traffic Authority estimates that 30% of all Americans will be involved in a drunk-driving accident at some point in their life. 14 This statistic is very scary and sobering. This figure translates to at least 1 in every 3 Americans faces the risk of either injury or death. It is rather sad that this risk is present despite the fact that there are already laws and policies in place which are intended to make American roads safer. The risk can be eliminated through stricter laws that punish violators heavily. The US legislature needs to boost confidence in the safety of American roads by enacting these laws. Law enforcement officials should support the legislature by ensuring that the new laws are enforced to the letter and that all violators face the penalties stipulated in the laws. 

In the discussion so far, conjecture and inference has been relied on to make the case for the need to introduce tougher drunk-driving laws. These tools allow for a compelling case to be made. However, actual empirical evidence offers the best argument for tougher laws. It needs to be established that the laws will work by referring to other jurisdictions in which the laws have been applied and found to be effective. A study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that the United States compares poorly against other developed nations. 15 Countries in Europe which have tougher laws against drunk driving were shown to have safer roads. In the report, recommendations were made that stricter policies are needed to discourage drunk-driving. 16 If the report is anything to go by, it is clear that empirical evidence indicates that stricter laws actually help to combat drunk-driving. The successes that have been reported in Europe can be replicated in the United States through the adoption of stricter drunk-driving laws. The US legislature needs to implement the recommendation issued in the CDC report and enact laws that contain provisions in which tougher penalties against offenders are spelt out. 

The case for the introduction on new and tougher laws against drunk driving is rather strong. However, an argument can also be made against this case. Questions can be asked about whether the new laws will be effective. There are already laws in place yet the United States continues to report drunk-driving accidents. What guarantees are there that the new laws will be any more effective? This question is valid. While this question waters down the argument made in this paper, it still does not take away from the fact that the US desperately needs tougher laws. The tougher laws have already proven effective in such countries as those in Europe. 17 Therefore, the US can hope to import the benefits that the European nations continue to enjoy thanks to the tougher laws. 

In conclusion, the United States is facing a crisis of road accidents. A significant number of these accidents have been blamed on drunken drivers. These drivers seem to ignore the laws that govern driver conduct on the road. The nation needs to adopt new laws that will discourage these drivers. The new laws will lower the number of deaths and injuries that result from drunk-driving accidents. Furthermore, the nation will be spared of the huge amounts that it incurs every year as it fixes the situation arising from drunk driving. Nations in Europe which have adopted tougher laws are already reaping benefits. The US should follow suit if it truly wishes to make American roads safer for all. 

Bibliography

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CNN, May 15, 2015, accessed 24th November 2016 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/14/us/ntsb-blood-alcohol/

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http://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/about/drunk-driving-statistics.html

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1 Mike M Ahlers, “Tougher Drunk-Driving Threshold Proposed to Reduce Traffic Deaths”, CNN, May 15, 2015, accessed 24th November 2016 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/14/us/ntsb-blood-alcohol/  

2 Ibid 

3 “Drinking and Driving”, 2002, accessed 24th November 2016 http://come-over.to/FAS/DrinkingDriving.htm  

4 “General Drunk Driving”, MADD, accessed 24th November 2016 http://www.madd.org/drunk-driving/about/drunk-driving-statistics.html  

5 Ibid. 

6 “Drunk Driving: It Affects Everyone”, Hearts for Families, accessed 24th November 2016 http://heartsforfamilies.org/blog/blog-april-2015-drunk-driving-it-affects-everyone.aspx  

7 “The Real Cost of Drunk Driving”, Life Safer, accessed 24th November 2016 https://www.lifesafer.com/blog/real-cost-drunk-driving/  

8 Ibid 

9 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Impaired Driving: Get the Facts, accessed 24th November 2016 http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html  

10 Ibid 

11 Ibid 

12 “Driving while Impaired— Alcohol and Drugs”, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., accessed 24th November 2016 https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/driving-while-impaired-alcohol-and-drugs  

13 Barron H Lerner, One for the Road: Drunk Driving Since 1980 (Baltimore:JHU Press, 2011). 

14 Valerie Mendralla and Janet Grosshandler, Drinking and Driving, Now What? (New York: Rosen Publishing, 2011). 

15 Douglas Quan, “Canada’s Drunk-Driving Death Rate Worst Among Wealthy Countries, U.S. Study Finds”, National Post, July 12, 2016, accessed 24th November 2016 http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-drunk-driving-death-rate-worst-among-wealthy-countries-u-s-study-finds  

16 Ibid 

17 Ibid