Archive for May, 2009

Drunk Driving – DWI Offense – Innocent Victims

Lives of those who met with drunk drivers were cut short, leaving behind loved ones who suffer for life. Drunk driving has been a continuing menace for years now swallowing thousands of lives every year. Irresponsible drinking habits of certain individual’s inspite of repeated warnings and DWI laws in place have done irreparable damages to the lives of innocent victims, changing the entire face of the victim’s lives.

DWI Tragedies

Alcohol related tragedies have become an everyday affair. It is indeed heartening to see a column dedicated to DWI tragedies which only indicates the frequency of drunken driving accidents. Over 10 years close to 250,000 people have lost lives due to DWI related accidents.

Victims of DWI accidents those who are alive and those who lost their near and dear ones publish memorials in newspapers in which they express their painful departure and that one incident which had deprived them of a happy family life. Not a single day passes without a death or damage caused due to drinking and driving.

Reading through some of those memorials is certainly painful. That is the reason why DWI convicts are made to face the victims of drunken driving accidents in person and make them share their painful experiences, which will help the offenders learn the seriousness of their mistake, which will help them not to repeat the same in future.

Some of those memorials for your reading

• In memory Of Peggy Caldwell-Heichel’s husband and three daughters killed by a drunk driver - The Caldwell Memorial
• Grandpa had reached the panhandle of Florida, when a drunk driver entered the Interstate going the wrong way - J. “Jake” Penton
• Brian stopped his dirt bike and was sitting there, waiting on Wayne. When Wayne came, he hit him head-on and killed him instantly - Brian Logan Phillips
• When he realized that he was going to die, he asked his Mother “Please take care of my babies. Keep them together as a family!” That was 40 years ago - Bill and Jeanette Brand

DWI Regulations

In order to control the drinking and driving menace, many laws, regulations and their enforcements are put in place. Legally accepted level of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 has been established in order to control impaired driving and consequent vehicle mishaps. While BAC level has been imposed for adults, all individuals below the legal drinking age of 21 years are treated at Zero Tolerance BAC. Any amount of alcohol content in the body of individuals (Zero Tolerance) they are convicted under DWI offense and subjected to suspension of license, fines and jail term.

Consequences Of Drunk Driving

Drunk driving accidents are on the rise these days. According to latest drunk driving facts, youngsters are the worst offender in this regard. College going students instead of focusing on their studies are getting addicted to drinking. Some of the consequences of drunk driving are mentioned below:

• You can lose your driving license.
• You can face suspension from your college. When suspended, you will not be able to attend classes. This can have a negative impact on your studies.
• As drunken driving accidents are treated as crime, you will face plenty of problems in getting a job. Employers all around the world do not like to give job to people with criminal record.

How To Avoid Getting Drunk

• Before you go out, it is advisable that you eat something. When you do this, absorption of alcohol will slow down. If possible, go for fats and proteins for your pre-libation meal.
• Make sure that you select the right drink. Do not opt for drinks that are made with artificial sweeteners. Stick to one brand rather than changing it every week.
• Interact with the server and ask him specifically to do not mix too much alcohol on your drinks.
• Individuals drinking in just one position do not realize how drunk they are. Therefore, stand up and try to mingle with other people.

Drinking Myths

• Sleeping for five or six hours straight after heavy drinking will make you feel at ease.
• There is a wrong notion among few people that drinking keeps them warm. But the reality is that it makes you dumb.
• To prevent hangovers, number of individuals takes Aspirin prior to drinking. According to recent study conducted by the American Medical Association, Aspirin reduces the rate at which your body metabolizes alcohol. In other words, your blood alcohol levels are going to increase. If you feel normal than usual in the morning, it is a clear sign that you are still drunk.
• Drunkorexia is an unhealthy state of mind and body. It is a complete wrong notion that drunkorexia helps in reducing weight. This is in short reducing or restricting the calorie intake by eating less in order to drink more.
• Keep in mind the fact that drinking coffee is not going to make you sober. There is a significant difference between coffee and alcohol. While coffee is a stimulant, alcohol is a depressant. Therefore mixing heroin and cocaine will cause over-excitement.

Legally Allowed Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Level

Under DWI laws and regulations a certain limit has been fixed by the authorities called the legally accepted BAC level, which is at .08. This has been widely accepted in all the fifty states in the country. The BAC level of a person depends on the number of drinks consumed by him. It is important to define the term ‘drink’ as it varies depending upon what you drink. A shot of liquor or five ounces of wine or one beer all of these contain same level of alcohol.

It is said that drivers measuring .08 alcohol levels are close to eleven times more prone to a vehicle mishap than others who do not consume alcohol. There may be a change in the level of impairment, but the fact is that impairment starts the moment they consume alcohol irrespective of gender.

Various BAC Levels And Their Implications

When Is It Safe To Drive?

Any amount of alcohol abuse leads a person to impairment in his physical and mental abilities. Hence the safest possible method is not to drive, no matter how much you drink. Severe consequences of DWI offense only signify the seriousness with which drunken driving incidents are being curbed to ensure public safety and safety of the person driving the vehicle. So, how safely do you drive? If you have any such experience which you find worthwhile sharing please do!