Ask anyone and they know that getting behind the wheel of the car when intoxicated is wrong. But 110 million cases of impaired driving were reported last year with 11,000 resulting in deaths. That’s half of what it was 30 years ago thanks to efforts of organizations like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). But it’s still too many.
Currently, the highest episodes of drunk driving occurs in those ages 21-34 and those of any age who engage in binge drinking. College campuses are currently where the most alcohol is consumed. In fact, many alcohol companies sponsor and host large events on college campuses. Advertisements from alcohol companies are still focusing on and targeting this age group.
Young adults are exposed to alcohol through media influence. Advertisements placed strategically close to campuses, television and media advertisements showing young adults their age engaging in social drinking bombard these youth. Another factor given for the rise of drinking in these age groups is the lack of parental monitoring. Most parents don’t travel with their children to college, so youth have a lot more freedom in the choices they are allowed to make. Young adults are also more susceptible to peer influences. When those around you are drinking, it’s hard not to engage yourself. And it’s even harder to not engage in drinking when you know you won’t be accountable to parents when you come home.
There are also several psycho-social influences at play. Young adults on college campuses are being told not to drink and drive by school officials, yet these same officials who tell them not to drink and drive are allowing alcohol companies to host and sponsor events-and possibly even profit from them! This positive reinforcement only confirms to the young adult that it is OK to drink.
Many young adults live close by their college campus, and most parties are close to or on campus. When you only have a small ways to drive, what’s the point of calling a cab? Going home in a group may be good in theory, but a lot of times those in the group pick the most sober to drive everyone home. This person may have had a few drinks less than the rest of the group, but may still be mildly to moderately impaired when they get behind the wheel. Still others like MADD point out that media campaigns have largely started focusing funds to teaching about not texting and driving, and some of the attention has been taken off the ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaigns of years past.
All of these factors can contribute to a person getting behind the wheel of the car while intoxicated, but solutions need to be made too. Media campaigns need to focus on not texting and driving while intoxicated. Stricter rules need to be made regarding events sponsored by alcohol companies on college campuses. And college campuses need to engage law enforcement with aiding in campaigns against drinking and driving-including setting up sobriety checkpoints, ignition interlocks to prevent those who have been convicted of drinking once before to drive, setting up a designated driver or asking local companies to sponsor cab fare for those drinking The highly successful program in Salt Lake set up by lawyer Robert J. Debry has been instrumental in making sure that drivers don’t get behind the wheel. The law office finds the busiest times of the year for drunken driving cases and reimburses for cab fare during those times. All of these are ways to help decrease drunk driving on campuses.
While some argue that cases have dropped by half in the last thirty years, it is only through great vigilance of those who have lost loved ones or have a personal connection to those who have lost loved ones that they have been able to do this. But for the 11,000 who die every year, that number is still too high and there is still much more that can be done to prevent that many people from dying every year from such a preventable issue.
REFERENCES:
Lerner, Barron H, MD (October 20, 2011) Friend Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk [Electronic Version] New York Times, Health