What are the symptoms? Introduction

My Interpretation

Young adults are often at parties where alcohol is served. What we need to do is to start a massive television and radio campaign to advertise that is cool not to drink and drive. These two media resources are the producers of advertisements such as Miller and Budlight. We need to install positive roll models for our youth, because most of the advertisements for alcoholic beverages on television are for the product. We also need to use the family and friends. Parents still hold negative attitudes toward drinking. Perhaps we can establish a massive campaign where friends and family are important.
Everyone does it so that makes it normal, right? Wrong!

It is the belief of some people who responded to a survey that alcohol "enhanced driving performance." Also, some respondents believed that drinking was normal and that everyone did it so that made it logical for them to do it. Some people underestimate the risks of drinking while intoxicated and are also willing to accept the risks.

My interpretation of this is that not everyone is going to react positively to a social drinking situation. It is not okay to drink and drive just because it looks like everyone else is doing it. At a party that serves alcohol, it is easy to cave in to that social pressure. People need to develop positive social behavior without drinking or driving. Perhaps sports bars can do other things like have contests for fans of a particular team rather than serve drinks.

National Survey of Drinking and Driving During 1995, twenty two percent of people 16 and older drove within two hours of drinking. An alarming statistic is when fifteen percent of youth ages sixteen to eighteen reported drinking and driving. People in there twenties are more likely to drink and drive at least once per year than other age groups. This abstract further goes to explore statistics that indicate bad driving habits. The average statistic reported for drinking and driving problems is sixteen percent. Some statistics I found interesting are sixty two percent of the driving age public believe that most people who drink and drive are what we call "problem drinkers or alcoholics." Another interesting statistic is fifty two percent of the driving age public believes that only one drink will not impair driving but 67 percent believe that scientific research shows that any level of drinking while driving is dangerous. It is important to note that drinking while driving is decreasing as of 1995.

My interpretation is that people need to watch themselves while drinking and driving. Just because someone believes it does not necessarily make it okay to drink and drive. I was alarmed when I found out that twenty two percent of our teenagers drink and drive two hours after the fact. This kind of statistic is dangerous because all it takes are these erratic teenagers to kill someone while under the influence of alcohol. I believe a massive media campaign to curb and eliminate drinking and driving needs to be implemented.

There needs to be responsible drinking and driving for those who are over 21. One such organization that advocates safe alcohol behavior. 15 commonly asked questions of MADD. Here is a summary of what MADD stands for:

Mothers against drunk driving (MADD) advocates a safe driving atmosphere and responsible drinking for those who are over 21. MADD is run by male and female volunteers. MADD is for safe driving which includes the non-consumption of alcohol while driving. Since the existence of MADD, 1400 pieces of legislation has surfaced. There are a modest amount of dollars involved: 51.3 million dollars. MADD says their cost of fundraising is not high. MADD's goals include: lowering the legal blood alcohol content to .08 percent, passing laws that says the drivers license can be taken away, and passing a .00 blood alcohol for our youth.
Taking matters into your own hands

Drivers are now reporting their fellow drivers if they detect that they are drunk. This technique, called "We have got your number-911" is working. People who have cellular phones are urged to report drunk drivers and to recognize the signs of drunk driving. This site lists 20 cues as to how to spot a drunk driver: 20 tips on how to spot a drunk driver Some of the signs include: Turning with a wide radius, driving on other than a marked road, and driving slower than 10 miles per hour below the speed limit.

What is to be done? I believe that we do not need to drink and drive. If you do feel the need to drink, do so responsibly, but I would prefer if you do not drink at all. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is moving in the right direction. We need to pass laws that discourage our minors from drinking and especially drinking and driving. We need to have a zero tolerance policy for drunk drivers as a whole. Their license should be suspended on site if they get into an accident, with perhaps one chance to appeal. Having a driver's license is a responsibility and a privilege not a right. People who have drivers' licenses should be responsible drivers.

In a society where we have to commute, we need tough laws against drunk drivers. We need to drive safely, and encourage cooperation. If we all do not drink or drive then we have safe highways. People should find other ways to relieve stress and to socialize. People should do what interests them.

What about the bars who say they will go out of business? If they say this then they need to realize that they are not the only ones on this planet who need to make a profit. If businesses want to keep selling drinks then they need to advocate not drinking while driving. Perhaps these bars, like sports bars can advocate having a designated driver in the group and not serve that driver alcoholic beverages.
Therapy

There are certain things that need to be done as well. We need to get away from this everyone drinks mentality, intervention to our youth telling them that drinking and driving is wrong and that there are other social things that they could do. Our youth need to get involved in decision making skills that will help them determine when not to drink and drive.
Hospital based therapy

This should work. The people get to interact with a film on real drunk and driving situations. They get to see real life experiences as a hands on approach to drinking and driving. Teens also get to see the trauma unit where people are recovering from injuries. A discussion is also held with a patient who was in an alcohol related crash.
A prevention program

Students interact with the problem of drunk driving. They present models, and give presentations on general information, statistics, and penalties for DUI. Students conduct skits on how friends can stop a drunk driver, and are invited to join the Highway Safety Club meeting. This program is effective because it teaches students to role-play to find ways to stop a friend from driving drunk. The skills these youngsters learn are rewarding and they can be done in 45 minutes.
Five Myths about defending accused drunk drivers, by William C. Head Five drunk driving myths

This site is dedicated to defending those people who are accused of drunk driving and has attorneys who are dedicated to the defense of those who are caught drunk driving.

This article is from the organization drunk driving defense.com. Myth one: Most people who are accused of this crime are guilty. There are many ways to debunk the breathalyzer test. This organization says there are thirty, among them these test machines malfunction, and they are non-specific for alcohol. Myth two: Drunk driving is a minor offense. Many drivers' licenses are suspended. Myth three: Any attorney can defend an accused drunk driver. This is not the case. An expert in the matter of antitrust litigation should be consulted. Lawyers are putting themselves at jeopardy if they counsel their patients to give up their constitutional and statutory rights by asking them to plead guilty to drunk driving. Some penalties include being suspended from school for at least one semester or one quarter. Myth four: Many alcoholic related cases cannot be won. Many people believe this myth. Most first time cases can be won when there is no evidence of a wreck or signs of bad driving. Winning may include having a drunk driving offense reduced to a lesser offense. Myth five: Drunk driving cases are handled the same as other cases. This is false because of two points: 1)The evidence is handled differently. For instance, the breath test is not required to be preserved. Another instance is when we have our fourth amendment right, against unreasonable search and seizure to be upheld. There can also be a book written about unfair drunk driver decisions. There are many unfair decisions handed out in order to reduce drunk driving .

Alcohol is becoming a huge problem in our society. Our teens need to hear the message do not drink and drive until they are the legal age. Drunk Busters also believe that young people need to know that becoming impaired is a problem.

Comparison
I believe that my report is fairly comparable to others in my generation. Even though my report does not have fancy icons, I believe it is good enough for a good grade.

Advice:
Start your reports early!  Do not wait until the last second. You will be pressured and stressed out to do a good job if you wait until the last second.