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Why Drunk Driving Happens

Drunk driving results in a substantial number of injuries and deaths each year. In 2005 alone, 254,000 people sustained injuries in alcohol-related accidents (Policarpio), and in 2006, it is estimated that 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes; this amounts to "an average of one every 30 minutes" ("Did You Know..."). This figure represents 41% of the total number of traffic fatalities for the year, 42,642 ("Did You Know..."). The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, MADD, states that "On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 39 minutes" ("Did You Know..."). Clearly, drunk driving results when someone drives while intoxicated, but the causes and effects of drunk driving go much deeper than that. This paper will explore the issues that cause the behavior, as well as the effects of drunk driving on individuals and others.

Most people are aware that "Drinking and driving don't mix." Despite their awareness that drinking can affect their driving, however, many people do still drink and drive. The causes for this behavior vary, but one of the most prominent is peer pressure. Young drivers may want to "show off for their friends," or they may "pretend not to be drunk" to suggest that they are capable of "holding their liquor" ("The Real Effects of Drunk Driving"). Even if a non-drinking member of their group offers to drive, a youthful drunk driver may decline the offer because of a reluctance to let anyone else drive the car ("The Real Effects of Drunk Driving"). The underlying mechanism of peer pressure is fear(fear of being rejected unless an effort is made to conform to the group's standards. Thus, a related cause of drunk driving is socializing with a group of individuals that drink and drive. Another aspect of peer pressure the youthful driver's lack of a strong self-identity; this weakness makes the driver vulnerable to peer pressure. Because "the need for acceptance, ap...

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Why Drunk Driving Happens. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 17:24, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/2000104.html