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 c

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gh, he may drive without realizing that alcohol has impaired his reflexes ("Understanding the Causes of Drunk Driving"). Finally, alcoholics are prone to driving drunk. They may drink all day long, intermittently or consistently, and may be so accustomed to driving drunk that they no longer recognize the danger. Since they may be able to conceal the level of their impairment or may not even feel impaired at all, they are more likely to drive in an intoxicated condition. The effects of drunk driving can run the gamut from embarrassment to death. At the very least, it must be pointed out that driving under the influence of alcohol is legally a crime ("Drunk Driving Facts"). Being stopped for drunk driving can result not only in arrest but also in the loss of the individual's driver's license, which in turn can lead to the loss of a job(particularly if the job requires the ability to drive (Crawford). Moreover, the laws governing drunk driving have grown far more stringent thanks to the efforts of groups such as MADD; two-thirds of the states have passed laws permitting the arresting officer to take away the driver's license simply for refusing to take a breath test ("Penalties for Driving Drunk"). In addition

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