The former head of the U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) argues that the real solution to drunk driving begins with personal responsibility. So he raises the question, drunken driving, predictable, but inevitable?
Drunken Driving — Predictable, but Inevitable?
by Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D.
Driving anywhere, anytime, under the influence of alcohol or drugs is dangerous to you, your family, other passengers and everyone else on the road. It does not matter if it is down the block or across the country; it is a risk you are taking for someone else. Drinking and driving has a lasting effect. Not getting caught reinforces the bad behavior and increases long-term risk to you and others. Getting arrested has a lasting effect on your job, your budget and your integrity. Being in a crash has long-term medical, even fatal, consequences.
Last year, thousands of people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. And injuries numbered hundreds of thousands. It is a staggering number of Americans killed and injured by a preventable condition. To put this in perspective, three of 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash sometime. It is predictable and therefore preventable. It is inevitable only if Americans refuse to reset the norms for the numbers of preventable deaths and injuries they will tolerate.
Intolerable
Changing this risk means changing public attitude about driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It is not something Americans should tolerate with a wink and a nod. If we do not want to be subject to the risk, not only attitudes, but behavioral norms must change. If we choose to drink when we party, we must designate a driver beforehand who agrees to stay sober. When we host a party, we must make it easy for our guests not to drink alcohol. Moreover, we must give our support to law enforcement to keep us safe from irresponsible drinkers.
Personal Responsibility
Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., is former Director of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Resources
Drinking and Driving Facts and Solutions.
Drinking and Driving. A Crash Course. eVideo. NY: Films Media, 2015.
Goodman, K. and Simon, K. Safe Road Home. Stop Your Teen from Drinking & Driving. NY: Sterling, 2005.
Kiesbye, S. Drunk Driving. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2011.
Mendralla, V. and Grosshandler, J. Drinking and Driving, Now What? NY: Rosen, 2012. Juv.
Van Tuyl, C. Drunk Driving. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2006.