One Drink is Too Many to Drive
08-09-2008, 12:16 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 767 FO
Posts: 873
[quote=Thedude;440844]So many hypocrites in this thread.
[quote]
I would be pleasently surprised if someone told me that they never drove when they shouldn't have. I think that if you drink at some point everyone will make a bad decision.
However, I believe at some point most people come to a point in their lives where they finally realize that the risks aren't worth it and they elect either not to drink at all or will have a DD or public transportation plan to get home. Case in point, I'm a big fan of german pils and reisling. My organization had a boat ride along the Rhein followed by a semi-formal dinner that lasted from 5PM to 10:30PM. I probably would have been alright having a beer on the boat or a glass of wine at dinner, but I didn't risk it because I drove there on my own and didn't have a DD. I drank coke all night.
Perhaps the point where people always make the right decision happens after they got away with a close call, or had a child, or a friend got caught, or they heard that .08 may be above the limit (especially if they are involved in an accident) and that one beer may be enough to land them in jail.
[quote]
I would be pleasently surprised if someone told me that they never drove when they shouldn't have. I think that if you drink at some point everyone will make a bad decision.
However, I believe at some point most people come to a point in their lives where they finally realize that the risks aren't worth it and they elect either not to drink at all or will have a DD or public transportation plan to get home. Case in point, I'm a big fan of german pils and reisling. My organization had a boat ride along the Rhein followed by a semi-formal dinner that lasted from 5PM to 10:30PM. I probably would have been alright having a beer on the boat or a glass of wine at dinner, but I didn't risk it because I drove there on my own and didn't have a DD. I drank coke all night.
Perhaps the point where people always make the right decision happens after they got away with a close call, or had a child, or a friend got caught, or they heard that .08 may be above the limit (especially if they are involved in an accident) and that one beer may be enough to land them in jail.
08-09-2008, 07:17 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 117
I'd venture to say, that if someone has ever known someone who was killed by a drunk driver, that they would have a zero-tolerance outlook on driving after drinking.
My neighbor was killed by a drunk driver last year. She was on her way home from choir practice, when she was hit head-on, by a drunk teenage girl. She died instantly. In typical "no justice" fashion, my neighbor was driving a Caravan, while the drunk girl was driving a smaller Ford Escap suv. The drunk was thrown out the side window of her car, and her car caught on fire, melting the engine. She barely had an injury; in fact she spent ONE night in the hospital. The State (VA) was going to charge her as an adult, but again, we feel too sorry for people, and she was charged in juvenile court, instead.
I really do feel for this kid, as she has ruined her life when she was just starting out. I look at my 16 year old daughter, and cringe at that thought, that it very easily could have been her. Until we make fundamental changes in the way we view drinking in this country, neighbors like mine, will continue to get killed - around 17,000 "neighbors" were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006.
The final tragedy in this is, my neighbor has a son who has a genetic disorder, that requires he be cared for around-the-clock. That leaves the widowed husband to deal with all of the care that is required.
This is what death looks like from someone I once knew:
My neighbor was killed by a drunk driver last year. She was on her way home from choir practice, when she was hit head-on, by a drunk teenage girl. She died instantly. In typical "no justice" fashion, my neighbor was driving a Caravan, while the drunk girl was driving a smaller Ford Escap suv. The drunk was thrown out the side window of her car, and her car caught on fire, melting the engine. She barely had an injury; in fact she spent ONE night in the hospital. The State (VA) was going to charge her as an adult, but again, we feel too sorry for people, and she was charged in juvenile court, instead.
I really do feel for this kid, as she has ruined her life when she was just starting out. I look at my 16 year old daughter, and cringe at that thought, that it very easily could have been her. Until we make fundamental changes in the way we view drinking in this country, neighbors like mine, will continue to get killed - around 17,000 "neighbors" were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2006.
The final tragedy in this is, my neighbor has a son who has a genetic disorder, that requires he be cared for around-the-clock. That leaves the widowed husband to deal with all of the care that is required.
This is what death looks like from someone I once knew:
08-10-2008, 06:53 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 409
In another life, I was a paramedic and i worked for the local volunteer fire/rescue squad.
I can tell you first hand that drinking and driving never ever pays off. There are very few things in this world that will get me angry. This is one of them. I have seen too many people killed because of a stupid decision to ever condone it, no matter the reason.
To Seeburg220: Sadly that is the outcome of about 90% of all fatal crashes where drinking was the causing factor. There is some medical science behind the *whys* the drunk one is rarely hurt seriously. I am sorry to hear about that. That is one of the main reason I think the drinking age should be raised, and the penalties for contributing to a minor to be more harsh than they are...
I can tell you first hand that drinking and driving never ever pays off. There are very few things in this world that will get me angry. This is one of them. I have seen too many people killed because of a stupid decision to ever condone it, no matter the reason.
To Seeburg220: Sadly that is the outcome of about 90% of all fatal crashes where drinking was the causing factor. There is some medical science behind the *whys* the drunk one is rarely hurt seriously. I am sorry to hear about that. That is one of the main reason I think the drinking age should be raised, and the penalties for contributing to a minor to be more harsh than they are...
08-11-2008, 04:26 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Position: Any, usually behind the wing
Posts: 382
With regard to the issue, in my very younger days, I was no saint. That doesn't justify it, but it's the simple truth.
Just this weekend I had the family with me going through my old stomping grounds. I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT there for 5 years. As we drove past a definative physical location I told my 2 teenagers and remaining near teenager the "that's where I had a stranger die in my care, right in front of me". It was an alcohol related accident. I hope I made an impression. I know at the time, for me, it certainly reinforced the why not to do it.
Seeburg- I'm sorry for your friend.
Just this weekend I had the family with me going through my old stomping grounds. I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT there for 5 years. As we drove past a definative physical location I told my 2 teenagers and remaining near teenager the "that's where I had a stranger die in my care, right in front of me". It was an alcohol related accident. I hope I made an impression. I know at the time, for me, it certainly reinforced the why not to do it.
Seeburg- I'm sorry for your friend.
