INTRODUCTION

One must understand the importance of safety while driving. Safety is an essential factor to take into account on a day-to-day basis. Drivers must never forget the fact that their safety and the well-being of other road users is in their hands. Traffic accidents are mainly caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Drunk driving is the act of driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or other substances. It is extremely dangerous and has been the cause of most car accidents on the highways.

THE PROBLEM

Already in 2016, about 10,467 people died due to the problem of driving under the influence of alcohol. More than 20% of these deaths were traffic related and many were caused by the use of drugs such as marijuana. In fact, more than 10% of people on the roads at night have marijuana in their systems, and there is always a 25% chance of an accident occurring when a driver has marijuana in their system. These facts are really alarming.

Due to these problems, it is logical to have laws to curb them. Under California Vehicle Code Section 23152 VC, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. A driver who commits DUI offenses is charged with penalties in court. Drivers who commit these violations also have their driver’s license suspended. It is very important to understand the seriousness of this problem, and it is also equally vital to know your risk factors.

RISK FACTORS

This problem of driving under the influence of alcohol has several risk factors, especially for car drivers, motorcyclists and young people. For young people, the tendency to be involved in an accident when there is a high level of alcohol in the individual’s system is high. As of 2016, 27% of 25-34 year olds were involved in fatal crashes due to approximately 0.08% BAC. 26% of them were between 21 and 24 years old and 22% between 35 and 44 years old. This shows how risky this is for young people.

Risk factors are also high for motorcyclists. In 2016, 25% of motorcyclists in the United States died due to traffic accidents and were found to have a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Additionally, 38% of motorcyclists between the ages of 35 and 39 died in fatal crashes with BACs of 0.08% or greater. This also clearly shows how much it affects driving under the influence of motorcyclists.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce these rising numbers. Here are some of the preventive measures that can be taken:

  • Use of sobriety checkpoints
  • Using community-based approaches to reduce alcohol consumption
  • A drastic increase in the price of alcohol due to an increase in taxes

For individuals:

  • Avoid drunk or intoxicated driving: no alcohol or drugs in the system while driving
  • Designate a driver who does not drink before drinking
  • If the person has been drinking, they should use uber/lyft and not drive.

CONCLUSION

Individuals and the government must take quick action to curb the problem of drunk driving. The increase in deaths from driving under the influence of alcohol continues to break the charts. As a consequence of this increase, citizens must be aware of risk factors and prevention methods. Preventive measures will reduce the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and make the roads a safer place for everyone.