martin@auvax (Don Martin) (08/16/83)
It's time to stop the carnage caused by irresponsible
drunk drivers.
I happen to be one of the fortunate ones. I do not per-
sonally know anyone who has lost their life because of
a drunk driver (DD) although I have been at a number of
accidents where the fools have ensured that someone
does not continue to live.
What can be done about this??????????
It would be interesting to see the responses of various
neters on this subject. Although some have a gut feel-
ing that the offenders should be nuked, we may get some
ideas that could actually be applied. For instance: how
may times have you allowed someone to drive even though
you know they are drunk?
Lets see some followup on this.
Don Martin (no, not from MAD)
Athabasca University
Edmonton Albertadembry@hplabs.UUCP (Paul E. Dembry) (08/19/83)
#R:auvax:-23200:hplabs:2500003:000:2982
hplabs!dembry Aug 19 13:05:00 1983
I too am one of the fortunate ones, but in a different context. I was
broadsided a couple years ago by a DD driving a pickup truck. He ran
the stop sign at approx. 50-60 mph in a residential zone and caught me
right behind the driver's seat. He fled the scene but my car ( actually
it was my landlord's car ) was still fairly operational and so I ran him
off the road and took his driver's license. The police were called but
never showed up. I had to let him go. What do you think the police did
when I showed up at the station with this kid's license? "Don't worry
about it, just call your insurance agent"!
The point of all this is that there are two ways to "cure" the DD problem.
First, society ( that means you and me ) must quit making light of
drunkeness and must become less accomodating to those who drink and
drive. Part of this has happened in Michigan. A host is responsible for
someone who leaves a party drunk and is caught for DD. I don't know if
this is the case in CA; if it is not, hopefully it will be soon. Also,
and this one takes longer to do, society must no longer equate alcohol
with "sophistication", i.e. only adults can legally drink therefore those
who drink are adults. I am not advocating an end to legal drinking. I
enjoy many different aperitifs and liquors, and consume a good deal of
champagne. What I am "advocating" is an attitude that moderation is the
true indication of maturity, not overindulgence.
Secondly, when the first item fails and a DD is caught, the legal system
and society must prosecute and hand out punishments that reflect the
serious nature of the crime. Face it, a DD is someone who has effectively
said, "F**k everybody, I know I can't drive but I don't care". At this
point, the DD is showing reckless and willful disregard for the safety
of those around him/her. It is equivalent to someone firing into a
crowded store while wearing a blindfold. It is my opinion that a DD is
guilty of attempted murder if no accident occurs and of PREMEDITATED
MURDER if a collision occurs and someone is killed. If the victim is
injured, the charge should be attempted murder again.
Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right. The DD should also
lose his/her license for a significant period of time, say 5 years
throughout the US, and have his/her car destroyed.
None of this can happen, however, without the cooperation of the
police. My incident, which happened in San Francisco, is a kick in
the a** to all the non-DDs in this country. In Michigan, the police
would have been all over the guy, especially because he tried to flee
the scene.
Finally, whenever I go to a party where I know I'll have a drink, I
don't drive. If it's too far to walk or ride my bicycle, then either
I don't go or I don't drink, not even a beer during dinner.
Paul Dembry
{ucbvax | decvax}!
hplabs!dembry