I, like most everyone else, am excited to celebrate this holiday season. Unfortunately, for some, the celebrating will lead to too much: too much celebrating, too much drinking and too many problems.
Celebrity Arrests this Past Week for Drunk Driving
Kicking off this season of celebratory cheer, several notable people have already wound up in trouble for drinking and driving. This past weekend the top official and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was pulled over in Fairfax, Virginia for driving on the wrong side of the road and subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI).
The same night in Detroit, Michigan the former Miss USA, Rima Fakih, was arrested with a blood-alcohol of more than TWICE the state’s legal limit.
Drinking and Driving Despite Safety Warnings
Safety warnings and educational programs are trying to educate people on the risks and dangers of driving after drinking. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that an estimated 11.4 percent of persons 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in 2010. (I won’t even get into the part where it mentioned 12 year-old kids driving!) While the percentage has gone down over the past few years, the 2010 estimate corresponds to 28.8 million people.
It is scary the amount of people who drive after drinking. No matter if a person’s blood alcohol level falls below the legal limit, reflexes and decision making skills can still be impaired.
Drunk Driving Arrests Nothing New
According to History.com the first drunk driving arrest was on September 10, 1897. George Smith, a 25 year-old taxi driver slammed his cab into a building in London, England. I am glad I was not in that cab. Additionally, the first laws against operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in the United States came in 1910 in New York.
While Smith was fined 25 schillings in 1897, fines and penalties fore drunk driving offenses are increasing and will hopefully deter some of the 28.8 million people still driving after drinking. Do yourself and others a favor, if you drink don’t drive and if you drive don’t drink and Happy Holidays!
If you do end up in trouble, you will need to learn more about drunk driving laws and defenses, click here.
Of course there will be some people who like to bring on too much drinking. At least we have the law to protect us from these bad drivers. It’s common sense to stay off the road if your intoxicated, that’s been proven time and time again. I’d like to point out the first drunk driving arrest made in 1897 is intriguing. You know what they say, you learn something new everyday! Thanks, terrific article by the way.
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As a defensive driving instructor, I sometimes shake my head when people don’t seem to grasp how dangerous driving an automobile really is. Add Drinking, or Texting, and you add an invitation for disaster. As you said, “if you drink don’t drive.” Holiday Time or anytime. Thanks for posting this!
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