flink@umcp-cs.UUCP (06/26/84)
Since the main argument for a national drinking age of 21 relates to auto fatalities, and since virtually all of those fatalities are caused by *male* drivers, how about a higher drinking age for men? --The aspiring iconoclast, Paul Torek, umcp-cs!flink
saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (07/02/84)
What I think would be better is to have a higher driving age rather than a higher drinking age. Obviously, of the two combined actions of driving and drinking, driving is the most dangerous of the two. Sophie Quigley ...!{clyde,ihnp4,decvax}!watmath!saquigley
mwm@ea.UUCP (07/05/84)
#R:watmath:-819100:ea:10100054:000:1205 ea!mwm Jul 5 10:32:00 1984 /***** ea:net.politics / watmath!saquigley / 8:44 am Jul 2, 1984 */ What I think would be better is to have a higher driving age rather than a higher drinking age. Obviously, of the two combined actions of driving and drinking, driving is the most dangerous of the two. Sophie Quigley ...!{clyde,ihnp4,decvax}!watmath!saquigley /* ---------- */ Better yet, how about a higher *competency* level for driving? For instance, the Germans drive at much higher speeds than Americans (both in and out of town), with far more people on the road. My experience (sorry, no hard numbers) is that they have far fewer accidents than Americans. The only reason I can think see is that their drivers test is much harder to pass, resulting in more competent drivers. We could start by having a federal drivers test that's something more than the joke I see around here. The next step would be to stiffen the penalties to the point where those who can't or won't drive competently aren't allowed to drive, period. If this causes them to loose their job, tough. They should have learned to drive while they had the chance. Driving while drunk shouldn't be a crime; driving as if you were drunk should be. <mike
haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) (07/11/84)
> What I think would be better is to have a higher driving age rather than > a higher drinking age. Obviously, of the two combined actions of driving > and drinking, driving is the most dangerous of the two. Also, of the two, driving is the more useful and necessary action. Have you ever heard of any organization aiming to abolish driving? (cmp. all the organizations fighting use of alcohol) Especially in the North American society, driving and automobiles are generally regarded as a necessity rather than as a luxury. Same can not be said about drinking. Tom "biased, and proud of it!" Haapanen {allegra,decvax,ihnp4}!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen University of Waterloo