In the United States of America, 13,000 people die each year. Bacteria or viruses did not cause these deaths. Firearms did not cause these deaths. But drunk drivers are responsible for this gruesome statistic. In addition, binge drinkers are responsible for many of the fatalities caused by drunk driving. It is important to ratify laws that will punish those who operate a vehicle even if the BAC is 0.05.
In the present time drunk drivers are repeat offenders and they are responsible for thousands of deaths each year because of two major reasons. First, they believe that they can get away with it. Second, existing laws are apparently ineffective deterrents for drunk driving.
Policymakers must realize that a BAC of 0.05 makes a driver unfit to operate a motor vehicle because the driver’s psychomotor performance is significantly impaired (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 2014). But all states in the U.S. will only prosecute drivers with a BAC that is higher than 0.08. It encourages people to drink and drive. Tougher laws are needed to lower the BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Divers with a BAC of 0.05 must not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. In addition, first time offenders must be jailed for at least three days. Repeat offenders must be jailed longer than one year.
Conclusion
Policymakers must create tougher laws to penalize drunk drivers. It must begin with laws that lower the limit so that drivers with a BAC of 0.05 must not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. Tougher laws will send first time offenders to jail. Moreover, there must be stiffer fines and longer jail time for repeat offenders. This new policy will become an effective deterrent for future violators and repeat offenders.
References
Centers for Disease Control Prevention. (2011). Drinking and driving. Web.
Dahms, W. (2012). Drunk drivers cause more deaths than firearms. Web.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. (2014). Drinking and driving. Web.