Drunk Driving Story

My Uncle George and Uncle Jim were two of my favorite uncles. Uncle George was the oldest of seven children, and Uncle Jim was the second oldest. Uncle George and Uncle Jim were very close, and spent much of their free time together. My uncles loved life and their families; in fact both uncles had big families, and loved spending time with their children. My uncles both worked very hard to provide for their families, and they even worked two and sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. As you can see, these uncles were very close and had so much in common.

Unfortunately, they both died as a result of others who were drunk driving. Uncle Jim died in 1996 just outside of his work as he was crossing the road (using the cross walk), and a drunk driver hit and killed him. Two years later, Uncle George and his wife were out for a drive in the country when a drunk driver hit them head-on. Uncle George died at the scene and his wife was badly injured. This is just one tragic story that was a result of drunk driving. Every year in the United States, drunk drivers are responsible for over 40,000 deaths. This number is alarming.

Consequences And Punishments

Those who have suffered the consequences and punishments of drunk driving would probably tell you that driving drunk is not worth the grief and emotional distress; although incredibly, there are many repeat offenders of drunk driving. Some of the consequences and punishments of drunk driving include:

Large fines

Drivers license suspension or even removal

Impounding of vehicle

Jail time

Community Service

Attendance of alcohol/drug addiction programs and classes for a long period of time

Loss of civil rights, such as voting

A felony on ones record

What Can We Do?

There are many ways to prevent drunk driving. Becoming educated of the dangers and risks associated with drunk driving begins at a young age, and in the home. Parents have an essential role in teaching their children about drugs and alcohol, and the dangers related to these illicit substances. Parents should council and inform their children, especially as children become of driving age, of drunk driving, and help them understand that drunk driving has deadly, catastrophic consequences.

Schools and community programs also have responsibility in teaching children and teenagers about the risks of drunk driving. Some schools even dedicate a day or a week to learning about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and drunk driving. These types of activities and programs can change students way of thinking and help inform and educate them on dangerous behaviors, drunk driving included.