Stories

Drunk Driving - Andrew Liang

Alcohol is deadly. This is an obvious fact—many of us know that drinking too much can cause significant damage to certain body parts. But alcohol can end lives indirectly as well. In fact, when paired with something many of us do so often we may not think of it as a hazard anymore, alcohol can claim another 10,000 lives in a year. The culprit? Drunk driving.

I remember that when I was a middle school student, a teacher asked me what the most dangerous activity I engaged in daily was. Perhaps it was sports—I’d by then seen videos of professional soccer players being carried out of stadiums in stretchers. But no. It was driving. And when the statistics are lined up, it isn’t even close.

Of course, this isn’t to say that we shouldn’t drive. It’s by far the easiest way to get around, so much so that most of us deem it worth the risk. Some accidents are also unforeseeable: cars can suddenly come from blind spots and brakes can fail. 

Tragically, 25% of traffic-related deaths are a result of driving under influence. Anyone who has taken driving tests knows that staying focused and alert is essential. Sometimes, spur-of-the-moment distractions pop up, such as an incoming text or an important phone call. While no distraction should cause a driver to break focus, the driver cannot control the distraction, and the distraction lasts only for a short while. Driving under influence is different. When a drunk driver puts their foot on the gas pedal, they are subjecting themselves to a distraction that lasts the whole journey. And a pretty powerful one at that.

What makes deaths due to driving under influence so regrettable is how easy they are to avoid. Find a sober driver, or call a rideshare if nobody is suitable. These tips are simple, yet people choose to risk their lives in the hands of a distracted driver—and many pay the price. A 2020 study of 1500 American drivers found that over 25% of them would drive after one or two drinks. Although drivers over 21 can still drive legally if their BAC is below 0.08 (corresponding to four or five drinks), there is still no good reason to drive after drinking. Sure, a driver might have to skip out on drinking, but is it really worth it for them to put themselves and any of their passengers in danger for a drink?

We must applaud and encourage efforts to educate people on drunk driving, but clearly there is much more work to do. At YVSF, we will help to lead the effort in preventing drunk driving and fostering a culture of responsibility among the youth.