Drunk-driving has taken the lives of many for centuries. Alls it takes is one night, one drink, and one person to get behind the wheel of a vehicle for drunk-driving to take away one or many lives. Just when researchers had thought we were making progress in reducing drunk-driving deaths, it has stalled, essentially backsliding. In fact, on average twenty-seven deaths per day related to drunk-driving take place. (The Economist) Which amounts to one death every 53 minutes. Unfortunately, even with that number, drunk-driving crashes do not have the same dramatic impact as a terrorist attack or plane crash, because drunk-driving victims tend to die one or two at a time, alone, on dark roads. (Stewart) There is nothing satisfying to the public …show more content…
In 1995 before President Clinton signed the “Zero Tolerance” law, an estimated “17,274 people were killed, and more than one million were injured in traffic crashes where alcohol was the leading factor.” (Prescott and Berman) After Clinton signed the “Zero Tolerance” law, the states saw an 11.3 percent drop in alcohol related fatalities a year later. (Wald, 1) In November of 1995, President Clinton signed the “Zero Tolerance” law -- which stated anyone under the age of 21 that drives with any alcohol in their bloodstream, would be declared legally drunk. As of 2014, “9,967 people were killed in alcohol related accidents, which accounts for 31% of all traffic crashes in the united states.” With that number, it is apparent that something has got to be done to decrease the risk for any driver on the road. (Wald, …show more content…
Even by enforcing seatbelt laws, the number would go down immensly. It is not only law enforcement officers that need to be more strict with these laws, but parents of teens and young adults that are underage drinking and driving. Parents can reinforce safe driving practices by driving together with there children, and by being a good role model -- not drinking and driving. (Drugged