Archive for August, 2010

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Drunk Driving – Action, Thrill or Irresponsible Attitude?

Posted on Aug 30, 2010

For those of you who think drunk driving is the social norm and full of action and thrill, think again. Drunk driving can cost you your life and the innocent life of others. This is because, when you choose to drive while being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substances, you are not only putting yourself in danger; you are also putting the life of innocent people at risk.

There are Harsh Realities of Drinking and Driving

There are some harsh realities surrounding the irresponsible attitude about driving while intoxicated that you might not be aware of. Even though most Americans have driven a motor vehicle after having too much to drink and the overwhelming majority makes it home safely, without causing a fatal accident or being stopped by the police does not change the fact that drunk driving is dangerous and should be taken seriously.

Zero Tolerance Law

In the U.S., the legal drinking age limit in all fifty states is now .08 percent of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but for drivers under 21 the prohibited level in most states is .01% or .02%. The Zero Tolerance Law pretty much means drinking and driving will not be tolerated whatsoever and if you are caught breaking the law, you will be severely punished

DWI Punishments

DWI punishments may vary from state to state and is based on your prior drunk driving history and the specific nature of your case. Some of the DWI penalties are:

• The loss of your driver’s license
• Jail time
• Seizure of your vehicle
• Increase in auto insurance rates
• Community service
• Probation
• Installation of ignition interlock device
• Hefty fines

Does Drunk Driving Affect Everyday People Like Me and You?

Drunk driving is one of the biggest problems facing both young and old. You do not have to be totally drunk for your driving to be impaired. A small buzz is all it takes to impair anyone’s reaction time, your vision, your ability to properly and safely operate a motor vehicle. So, to be safe it is recommended that you do not operate any motor vehicle while your driving is impaired, not even slightly.

Alcohol can cause addiction or alcohol dependence, and alcohol dependency leads to alcoholism which includes these four components:

• Immunity and tolerance: The need to drink more alcohol in order to stay high.
• Uncontrollable craving: A strong urge to drink alcohol.
• Lack of control: Not being able to control one’s drinking.
• Dependence and withdrawals: anxiety, nausea, the shivers, and headaches are some experiences one would have when drinking is abruptly stopped.

Drinking Facts, Drunk Driving, Road Accidents2 Comments »Drunk Driving

Mizzou Assistant Arrested On DWI Suspicion

Posted on Aug 26, 2010

Bruce Walker, a football coach at the University Missouri, was incarcerated on August 2, in the evening by the campus police on suspicion of drunk driving.

No Charges Reported

Until now no reports of charges or fines have been reported to the media and no one knows if Walker will be charged with DWI.

Coach Found Behind the Wheel

Captain Brian Weimer of the University Missouri Police Department said, the officers’ said that when they showed up to the Missouri Athletic Training Complex parking lot late that evening the coach was behind the wheel of the vehicle with the engine running.

The Coach Called a Taxi

A Columbia lawyer that Walker talked to said, the football coach and a couple of the football teams staff members were putting coolers in Walker’s pick-up truck and there was a cab which was called to give him a ride home waiting nearby when the incident happened.

The Coach was in the parking lot after a trip

The Missouri football coaches had went on a field trip with their families to a Missouri lake and was in the parking lot after coming back from the trip on the bus.

Matter Can Be Handled On the Campus

The assistant athletic director for media relations at the school told reporters that appropriate action to handle the matter on campus was being taken and the coach would be coaching at the football team first practice of the year.

Campus Police Have Jurisdiction

On most college campuses, campus police have jurisdiction over matters like this and they are handled by campus magistrates and not local city law enforcement personnel so the school has a wide leeway in how the matter is handled.

Drunk Driving a serious issue in Missouri

Missouri law takes driving while impaired very seriously because law enforcement in the state reports that of the over 8,000 accidents in Missouri in 2000 involved people that had a blood alcohol level of .01 or more.

Damage Caused By Drunk Driving

In 2000 one in almost every 200 miles driven in the state was a driver with a blood alcohol level of .08. Law enforcement in Missouri reported that of about almost 50,000 accidents in Missouri involved drinking caused 511 deaths and hurts about 16,000 Missouri citizens.

Missouri Drunk Driving Cost

Drinking and driving is an issue in almost 30% of Missouri’s accident costs. DWI related accidents in Missouri cost the people about $3 billion in the year 2000; this includes $1.2 billion in cost in money and about $1.6 billion in injuries and loss of life. Drunk driving crashes are worst and more deadly than most other accidents. Citizens that are not drunk paid almost $2 billion in DWI crashes.

Drunk DrivingNo Comments »Druk Driving DWI Suspicious

Healthy Relationship with Parents Can Prevent Teen Drinking Problems

Posted on Aug 23, 2010

Alcohol abuse in young people is becoming a major problem to the point that the American Academy of Pediatrics are advising pediatricians to start screening teenagers and even sixth graders due to the health risks involved. But, how can parents get involved and prevent their teenagers from drinking at such a young age?

Listed below are 4 ways for parents to build a healthy relationship with their teens in the hopes of preventing drinking at an early age.

1. Good Parent-child Relationship

The circumstances in which a child drinks his first drink and how parents deal with it, is critical to building a healthy parent-child relationship. A recent study suggests that teens that have a strong relationship with their parents may start drinking at a later age. Parents’ involvement can also influence both a later drinking age and a high-quality relationship with their teens. The data also revealed that these teens who had a good parent-child relationship also had a lower risk of drinking problems compared with their peers.

2. Trust and Privacy

Trust and privacy is a major issue among parents and teens. Parents need to learn to trust their teenagers and give them some privacy from time to time. If the child doesn’t feel that he or she can confide and trust his/her parents, then the child will shy away from talking to them about anything, including drinking. Also, when in the doctor’s office, teenagers should be given some privacy to communicate one-on-one with their doctor on a confidentially basis without parents’ presence.

3. Communication and Respect

Communication is the key in building a healthy relationship with teens. Talk with them about your family’s history of alcohol or drug use. There’s a genetic connection to alcoholism, and kids should know if they are at risk for alcoholism also. Teenagers should be able to feel that they can discuss their problems with their parents and that their parents respect their feelings.

4. Rules and Prevention

You are still the parents, so there should still be rules. Set some rules and abide by them. Have a no alcohol, drugs, or tobacco until age 21 policy in the household. Talk to them about alcohol and its’ dangers such as drunk driving, drinking laws etc… And keep a close eye on their behavior and the friends they hang out with. Let them know that this is about keeping them safe and not to control their lives.

Alcohol Abuse and its Effects on Teenagers

Research shows that during the teenage year, the brain is in an amazing developmental phase. It shows that the brain growth spurt gives teens remarkable cognitive powers, but also leaves their brains more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other harmful substances. Recent research has also shown that the sooner teenagers start drinking alcohol or using drugs; the more likely they are to have problems with academics, jobs, and relationships as adults.

Remember, as parents you play a very important role when it comes to your children’s risk of alcohol abuse. Building a strong and healthy relationship with your children can prevent them from early drinking problems. Your teenager may not show it, but they still view you as their biggest role models!

Alcohol Abuse4 Comments »Alcohol Abuse Parental Guidance