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What Are the Common Causes of Drunk Driving Fatalities?
Drunk driving fatalities make up approximately one-third of all deaths related to traffic injuries. Those at the highest risk include young adults under age 24, motorcyclists, and those with prior convictions for driving under the influence. The cause of death in drunk driving fatalities depends on the type of injury. Trauma to the head, loss of blood from massive cuts, or damage to the internal organs can all occur during a traffic accident.
Alcohol remains in the blood until the liver processes it, which takes approximately one hour per one ounce (about 30ml) of alcohol consumed; in those with compromised livers, however, it can take much longer. A blood alcohol concentration test measures how much of a person’s current blood supply consists of alcohol. A reading of 0.08 percent, the point at which driving becomes illegal throughout much of the United States, means that the person’s blood contains one-eighth of one-percent alcohol. While this may not sound like much, it is enough to impair reaction time, which can result in drunk driving fatalities.
The impact from a car crash can cause numerous different types of injuries. Head trauma, for instance, can occur from being struck by flying debris, or from hitting the steering wheel or other hard surfaces. Victims can go into hypovolemic shock, a condition that occurs when the body loses too much fluid — such as through blood loss — and the heart can no longer pump efficiently. If emergency personnel does not arrive in time to begin replacing the lost fluids, victims can die from blood loss. Injury to internal organs can be caused by both blunt-force trauma, such as the steering column striking the abdomen, and impalement, such as a sharp shard of glass piercing through the abdominal cavity into one of the organs.
Young adults are often at a higher risk for causing and suffering from drunk driving fatalities than older adults with the same amount of alcohol in their blood stream. There are numerous possible reasons for this, including lack of driving experience in younger adults versus older adults. Younger adults are also more likely to travel in groups, which increases the level of distraction while driving. Those with a prior history of driving drunk, as well as those who mixed other drugs or medications with alcohol, are also at a higher risk of causing an accident.
Most countries have laws regarding drinking and driving, although the legal definition of “drunk” varies. Certain countries, including Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, have a zero-tolerance policy, meaning it is illegal to drive with any amount of alcohol in the blood. The 0.08 percent limit in the United States, Mexico, and a few other counties is the highest legal limit in the world.
Methods of preventing drunk driving fatalities include educating the public about the issue, setting up sobriety checkpoints along roads and highways, and imposing serious consequences, such as loss of license or jail time, for those who violate the law. Individuals can also help keep the roads safe by avoiding driving after consuming alcohol and preventing friends and family from driving while intoxicated.
Discussion Comments
I think the reason why most teens drink and drive is because they feel like they're invincible. As an example, being a teenager/young adult gives you new opportunities and freedom. Some use this freedom to do whatever they want.
Not only does this include driving at very high speeds, but even more so, it includes drinking and driving. Not only can carelessness and stupidity lead to injuries, but it can affect others as well.
For example, what if someone was drunk with four other friends in the car, and they got into a car crash? If the drunk driver was the only one who survived the incident, then they have blood on their hands, and the families of those people are tremendously affected.
When it comes to drunk driving, it's better to be safe than to be sorry. Never drive with someone while they're drunk. Even if their alcohol level is relatively low, you still run the risk of getting injured or killed.
For example, a few years ago, I was out with some friends at a restaurant, and one of them (who had just got finished drinking) offered me a ride home. Even though he wasn't drunk, I still decided to ride home with someone else. Even when you think you're safe, it's not always the case.
Wow, I didn't know that some countries had a zero tolerance policy for alcohol. While some people may find this to be way too extreme, I think it's pretty justified. In the U.S., drunk driving is a serous cause for death and fatalities every year. We need to instill laws like this.
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