THE CLIFF AFTER THE PEAK

Today’s society has drilled it into heads worldwide. Commercials blaze messages across television screens across the planet, driving-instructors repeat this concept countless times, and organizations have sprung up to underscore all of the dangers. "Don’t drink and drive." Brainwashed, many simply don’t do it because they "know" its wrong. Others ignore the warnings and do it anyway. Statistics weave a tale of death, logically sound, to anyone wishing to listen and believe, while personal testimonies entice a tear, appealing to sympathetic tendencies. Whatever the case, due to deaths and/or penalties, it is dead wrong to drink and drive.

Pacifists were originally opposers of American involvement in the Vietnam War. They opposed the war, correctly predicting that it would be long and bloody with thousands of deaths on each side. One must now wonder, however, why many of these "pacifists" are now joining an activity (driving drunk) that kills many more people annually than the entire Vietnam war. Well over fifty percent of these alcohol-related automobile deaths are innocent victims, which should disturb everyone, not just pacifists.

As for penalties, drunk drivers in America are let off easy… too easy. Driving over the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 in Virginia may lead to a license suspension or revocation, vehicle impoundment, fine, or jail term. On the other hand, Germany has a cut-and-dry Driving Under the Influence (DUI) policy; if a driver in Germany is caught driving drunk, they are immediately considered a criminal and may face 5 years imprisonment, fines, or license suspension or revocation. For BAC’s from .05 to .079 in Germany, three-month license suspensions should be expected, while six-month license suspensions are incurred after driving with a BAC level from .08 to .099. Finally, driving with a BAC in excess of .1 or refusing to take lawfully requested chemical tests will be ensued by a five-year license revocation. Imprisonment and fines are sentenced at the judge’s discretion.

Essentially, with two large-scale negative factors (deaths and legal penalties) for driving drunk, one should realize that the risks involved render the act of drunk driving "just not worth it." Nevertheless, despite the obvious negatives and organizations’ attempts to make these negatives known, drunk drivers still abound, and everyone should do their best to be responsible for themselves and others they are in contact with.