Posts Tagged ‘Blood Alcohol Content’

Driving under the influence of alcohol is an issue of serious concern. With the increase in the percentage of drunken driving accidents, addressing drivers who drive their vehicle under influence of alcohol has become serious issue.

Penalties for Drunk Driving

Imposing penalties on those individuals who engage in drinking and driving is to curb their drinking and driving habit. Advisory notes and warnings were not effective in stopping the incidence of DWI accidents and mishaps. Efforts to create awareness among public especially among the drinking population about the dangers and risks involved in drinking and driving do not have a wide reach.
It is only by punishing those who exhibit irresponsibility and carelessness can the menace of Drunk Driving be curtailed seriously. The regulations, penalties and punishments prescribed for DWI convicts have been tabled for your reference and clarity.

It is easy to pass a law and impose punishments, what is difficult is to drive the issue clearly in the minds of people who repeatedly violate law and endanger both their lives and the lives of all others on road. So friends, hope this article was as effective as informative. Please write to us a changing incident that helped you stop a drinking and driving.

Drunk driving can be compared to blind rhinoceros on steroids that has just escaped from its cage at a zoo. Drunk driving accounts for more than 50% of accidents and deaths on our roads. Though not all drunken driving cases lead to the death, they however have prolonged consequences that after the fact, drunk drivers are unable to equate to the feeling they had while they were getting drunk.

After a major drunk driving accident, life seems to come to a halt. Many drunk driving victims’ lives are changed forever. Many circumstances may arise out of a single incident of drunk driving including:

• Drunk drivers may end up being prosecuted by the state for elevated alcohol blood content (BAC)
• may be imprisoned for causing injury or death to other individuals as a result of their drunken state
• may end up themselves victims of serious injury

All three consequences inflict serious financial and emotional strain on both the offender and the victims. It may also result in loss of mobility, income source, friends and freedom.


Organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have long advocated a series of measures that would reach deep into the pockets and minds of individuals who insist on driving while intoxicated. One of their philosophies is that adults’ freedom to drink responsibly should be sacrificed if it opens the possibility of removing one drunk driver from the streets. This notion is gaining traction such as having divorcing parents sign a legal document prohibiting alcohol consumption before driving their children. Any failure to do so would result in loss of custody, jail time, or prevention of visitation.

How to Prevent Drunk Driving

We can prevent drunk driving in many ways. Some of them are self-dependent while others depend on the support of others.

• Be your best friend: Always know your limit. There is one saying that when the ugly person in the bar starts looking pretty it is time to go. Never consume alcohol above what only you know are your limits. Never mind what your peers may say, as they are only your true friend if they want what is best for you.
• Always have a designated driver: If you go out as a group, choose someone to be the designated driver. This individual should not be allowed to consume any alcohol and be prepared to drive every one home.
• Be a responsible Host: Never allow your guests to leave on their own driving while intoxicated. You can easily call a cab, take away their car keys, or just simply put them up to cool off until they become sober.
• Advocate for Tougher Laws against DUI: The level of grief brought on because of drunk driving warrants stiff penalties for drunk drivers. Most individuals respond only to pressure in the pockets or on their freedom.
• Report a Drunk Driver: If a drunk driver is refusing to take advice about being drunk, or just simply quit drinking, then it is time for the public to intervene. Call in your local law enforcement that will ensure their safe passage home without causing any harm to themselves and others.
• Seek Help: If you recognize that you are a persistent teenage drunk driver, seek professional advice and counseling from your local substance abuse center. These individuals are trained in handling cases of compulsive drinking and emotional disorders and are always willing to help you get over your addiction.

I am sure every one of you would have come across occasions or even been a party to alcohol abuse mainly drunken driving happenings. How was the experience? Well the question makes sense only to those who have realized the seriousness of the issue and not to those care free guys who hardly know what they are upto.

How to Stop Friends from Drinking and Driving?

Inspite of frequent warnings and legal consequences like DWI drunken driving accidents continue happening endangering not only the lives of individuals driving the vehicle, but also the lives of those innocent people on road. Frequent among these is the underage drinking. It is indeed a very difficult task ahead to stop drunkards getting themselves and others into serious trouble and injury

Well, every effort to teach and make people aware of the consequences of drinking and driving and alcohol abuse are effective only to a limited extent. Number of initiatives by the federal government like field sobriety tests namely Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Test, breathalyzer and penalizing the accused for any violation under DWI are not sufficiently effective.

Another way to stop such happenings lies in the hands of near and dear ones. The moment they are drunk, you know they are not in senses, hence as friends and loved ones do whatever is possible by you to stop them from handling the vehicle in a drunken state. This in fact completely solves the problem and avoids every chance of a drunken driving accident.


Hear from them….

See what people who have been through horrifying experiences of drunken driving have to say about it.

“No matter what, never allow your friends drive home after they have indulged themselves into heavy drinking. You can offer to drive for your friend’s safety and for the safety of all others on road” – Jeffrey


“We as a couple have mutually agreed not to drink and drive. On those days when we go partying we fix up a driver who will take us back home safely. Thanks to our friend Annette who made sure we did not screw up thing after drinking” – Bernadette


“I get on to my nerves when I see my brother drinking and offering to drive the car back home…the sad part is that he never listens to anyone not does he care to take advices….the only way I found to stop him drive his vehicle is by putting away his car keys even before he could realize it and safely engage a cab to get back home…..Boy! It is definitely a huge task as my brother is highly systematic except when it comes to drinking” – Anne Stephens

“Sam is a good friend of mine. He loves adventures and drinking and driving is his favorite hobby….not only does he bet on driving home back, it ensures he drives at a particular speed….imagine the danger…..many repeated warnings only proved futile…..finally I had to threaten him about calling the police….one of the days I had a police personnel coming over to a friends place, on a complaint lodged by me….I think that was the last time Sam spoke to me…….its been years since I met him…I am happy that I saved my friend and a lot of others on road atleast on that one occasion”- Steve


“It was my friend Julie’s birthday party and that was the first time I met Robin. He was a cool guy indeed, but a serious alcoholic. I was surprised to see him steady after close to 6 rounds of drinking. It was only then I realized that he was planning to drive back home all on his own. Nobody seemed to stop him, given that it was his routine to drive home back. Being a DWI counselor I was sure he would end up into some serious trouble. Just to gain his attention I complimented him and his car and asked whether it was okay if I could have a drive. I asked my friend Paul to follow me in his car, just to get a drive back to the place. And lo….Robin was unable to even walk upto his door, thanks to Paul… he helped me in putting Robin in his bed. Two days later I had called up a couple of other friends and also Robin for tea at my place and explained to them the seriousness of alcohol abuse, DWI and other legalities, Field Sobriety tests, penalties, fines and imprisonment. I really do not know how far it was taken, I atleast had the satisfaction of having done my duty”- Desiree

“Do whatever you can to stop your son or daughter from driving while they are drunk. Even if amounts to putting them behind bars, is fine. It is any day better than loosing them for ever…like how I have lost both my son and daughter in a drunken driving accident…..you better be serious about it…..do not play with their lives…..after all they are your children” – Martina Gomes


Never be late in helping someone who is drunk and intends to drive. Peer pressure is one reason why some individuals end up drinking out of control. Inspite of the warnings in alcohol advertisements, people commit certain fatal mistakes endangering their lives and the lives of others. You save a number of lives by helping them. Do whatever you can. A small step is sure to save lives. Enjoy life by helping someone live.