Melinda Pavey
Minister Roads, Maritime and Freight
52 Martin Place
Sydney NSW
Alison Landers
420 Kant Street
Sydney
6066
Dear Melinda Pavey,
I am writing to you as recently it has come to my attention that there are many prevalent road issues that are not being given enough recognition and coverage in public campaigns. One particular issue i am concerned about is the dangers of drink driving in todays youth, it seems that as time goes on it is becoming increasingly common for road accidents to occur in young people when alcohol is involved. The Australian bureau of statistics showed that in 2015 over 67% of deaths from young drivers were caused by drink driving. I believe these statistics are way too high and could potentially be reduced with the right approach.
Right now although there are quite a fair amount of anti drunk driving ads and campaigns in the media, there is next to nothing targeted at the younger audiences that need it the most. I theorise that by even putting younger people in as the actors in these campaigns could even make them more relatable and relevant for todays youth. The National Health & Medical Research Council in 2014 took a survey which shoed that on average around 13% of deaths of 14-17 year olds are caused by alcohol intake.
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I believe that youth drink driving is only as small, focused part of the overall problem of youth alcoholism. The Transport Accident Commission discovered in 2015 that 33% of drink drivers in fatal accidents were between the ages of 17-24. this further supports me theory of how important it is that we get this issue under control as soon as possible. Statistics from the National Hospital Morbidity Database showed that in 2006, just under 3000 hospital separations among young people ages 15-24 had been caused by acute intoxication from
The facts are plain and simple, that alcohol and driving do not mix. About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some time in their lives. Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is totally preventable. To curb this national travesty, concerned Americans need to examine the problems, the effects, and the solutions to drunk driving. First of all, America has had a problem with drunk driving since Ford perfected the assembly line. Alcoholism is a problem in and of itself, but combined with driving can have a wide range of effects. The consequences of this reckless behavior can include a first time DUI or licenses suspension; a small fender bender, or worst of all a deadly crash. Most
Imagine the idea of a college student driving back to her dorm from the grocery store. She waits patiently for the light to turn green as she sings to her favorite song on the radio. Finally, its time for her to go and she accelerates through the intersection. Little did she know a man that had too many drinks would come flying through the red light. The last thing she saw was the headlights of his car. Drunk driving is a heartbreaking occurrence. Every day drunk drivers are imprisoned, either for traffic violations, dangerous driving, or accidents. People that make the mistake of drinking and driving not only put themselves in danger; they put all of the other people on the roads in danger. Innocent lives may be lost because of another’s
In conclusion we have learned about some of the statistics that play apart in drunk driving. We have talked about ways that us as individuals can make to help prevent others from drinking and driving. Everyone is always outraged about hearing about a drunk driving incident that happens, but are you going to step up and help prevent the next one that could happen or are you going to sit back and hope someone else speaks up for you.
Every year, thousands of deaths occur as a result of drunk driving, and every day people are facing the consequences of irresponsible drinking. Because of the issues caused by irresponsible drinking, the US government passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984 which raised the minimum drinking age to twenty-one to prevent drinking-related accidents and violence. Despite the intent of its passing, it was a counterproductive decision. Because of the higher age restriction, high school upperclassmen and college underclassmen see drinking as an exciting, rebellious act. Consequentially, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act resulted in an increase in dangerous and irresponsible drinking which continues to this day. Not only does the
Each year numerous lives are lost due to careless and irrational driving. The disregard for safe driving has been a predicament to the United States of America for years. Many years Police have relied heavily on speed cameras, breathalyzer tests and heavy fines as a deterrent against unlawful drivers. Over the years fatality rates have increased, so the Department of Transportation and Highway Safety has composed a series of safe driving campaigns. On many occasions the Transportation Department informs and advises the public about the importance of responsible driving. They propagate safe driving through the various channels of the media and
Once the allure of alcohol is no longer a social trend, parents would be stripped of their worries of their “rebellious teenagers sneaking off to basements and backwoods to binge drink far from adult supervision” (Griggs). Parents cannot protect their children from every hazard in the world, but they can educate their kids and desensitize their kids to the thrill of drinking out of adult supervision. Opposers claim that the current law “...[diminishes] the number of traffic deaths caused by young drunk drivers...” but they fail to realize that “...tougher seat belt and D.U.I. rules have contributed to the decrease, too” (Glaser). “Raising the drinking age hasn't reduced drinking -- it’s merely driven it underground..” (Glaser). With the legal drinking age at 18 and the incorporation of alcohol awareness classes, citizens would develop safer habits when consuming
Lowering the drinking age will result in life and death consequences. By keeping the drinking age at 21, the rate of fatalities for drinking and driving decrease drastically. During the short period during the late 1980’s when the drinking age was lowered to 18, the number of fatal car crashes involving young adults who were under the influence dropped from 61% to 31% (Wil Fulton). By bringing the age down to 18-years-old, alcohol would be more accessible to the lower age group. For example, an 18 year old, who is still in high school, is more likely to sell alcohol to a 16 year old than a 21 year old, who is away at college. In recent studies, researchers found that 77% of the population are opposed to lowering the drinking age to 18 (Brandon Griggs). MADD is supported by influential government companies such as the American Medical Association, National Transportation Safety Board, National Safety Council, International Association Chiefs of Police, Governor's Highway Safety Association, Surgeon General of the United States, and U.S. Transportation Secretary to name a few (John H. Barnhill, PHD). Overall, young teenagers lack the proper wisdom collected to make right judgments about alcohol. The 3 years between the age 18 and 21 are filled with change and responsibilities, making one more suitable to make appropriate
Every 51 minutes in America, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash. A dangerous issue facing society today is the problem of teen drinking and driving. Currently an approximate of 10,076 people die in drunk driving crashes per year. If positive progress to ceasing this act does not happen, teens will continue to drink and drive putting everybody on the road at risk. Teens who drink and drive put everyone on the road at risk, causing serious crashes that could be preventable.
Myself being one who’s life has been effected by it, I can relate to those who are trying there hardest to prevent it. A lot can be said but action is key. This is an epidemic that results in awareness that truly effects all aspects of our lives, therefore it acts as a lead in to asking “How and why is a drunk driving experience effecting the world beyond the offenders?” Thinking about the first article I read, I would like to elaborate on the issue of the age group that drinks and drives. It is clearly known across the nation that the legal drinking age is 21 years old.
Although there are many commercials, ads, documentaries, seminars, etc. on the reasons why people should never drink and drive, you would be surprised how many people still get behind the wheel after having had more than just a drink or two. We might not realize it but every day, about 28 people in the United States die in car crashes that involve a drunk driver. This equals to one death every 51 minutes! It’s so sad because these statistics could be way better if people had a well thought out plan prior to going out drinking. There has been research found relating to Drinking and Driving Behaviors since this topic is now becoming more of an issue in this generation than it was in the past. For instance, Schell, Chan, and Morral (2006), found that some people who have a DUI record tend to have pretty high expectations of themselves even after having some drinks in their system (e.g., “I feel more relaxed when drinking"), so with that being said those people with higher confidence were the ones more likely to be engaged in drinking and driving activity. While intoxicated, we often don’t consider any negative consequences that can happen to us but as you’ll see on the news, on social media, in the newspapers, etc. driving while under the influence can be very dangerous and even fatal.
The sobering fact is drivers under the age of 21 are responsible for 17% of fatal alcohol related accidents, even though they represent only 10% of licensed drivers (Stim, R. Teen Drunk Driving: The Sobering Facts of Underage DUIs (n.d.). There are approximately 2000 deaths associated with under aged drinking and according to the blood alcohol content of the victims, the main contributing factor is binge drinking, averaging 5 times the legal limit. Research has also shown that more times than not, the underage drunk driving is not wearing seat belts, increasing the chances of a fatal accident. They have found that this # is 74% of the population of drunk drivers involved in fatal
Communities have noticed problems with juvenile drinking and driving and started The Saving Lives Project, which was planned to reduce alcohol impaired driving and related problems (Holder 2). This development uses media and education to get the knowledge out about the risk of drinking. The communities that are a part of this project have shown a 40 percent decrease in alcohol related crashes (Holder 2). The project has been shown that older teen’s ages sixteen to nineteen are now less likely to drink and drive after learning about the risks in alcohol classes. Colleges that have set a week to focus on education and prevention of alcohol have shown a five-fold increase (Gonzalez 4).
As they are still at a young age in life they’re still part of the most vulnerable age, where anything could happen to them. AS these ages they are either in full time education or in a full time job, this will help make sure that the health promotion campaign is offered to everyone as they will always be there and for schools they can be taken out and a talk can be given to them from either someone from the police, someone who has experienced bad consequences of binge drinking or just a talk from the teachers explaining the effects to make sure that they are aware of the consequences of their actions maybe. Binge drinking is a rising concern in the UK, alcohol may not affect a range of stoical and age groups but I believe that 18-25 year olds are targeted group due to the increase in statistics. As they are still so young, they are still learning new things at either work or at school, so therefore will take more of the information told in than someone who is 60+ who can’t remember a lot due to memory loss due to age. As these people are still young even if they are an alcoholic they are at an age where this can be sorted out, and people are there who can help them get over this problem whereas someone who is older in their 60’s then it would be harder to help them and get them off the
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report has shown that raising the drinking age reduced alcohol related teen traffic accident statistics and brought a 13 percent decrease in fatal traffic accidents for all ages. Additional studies have shown that denying alcohol to teenagers also causes a decrease in cigarette smoking and the use of other drugs. It's not a statistic popular with a lot of people, but nonetheless, it's been proven.Other laws have been passed
Someone in America dies every twenty-two minutes, because of an alcohol related accident. Most people feel that they will never be part of this statistic, but experts on this subject say that everyone has a forty percent chance of being in an accident with a drunk driver. Drunk driving is a serious problem that the United States, as well as the world, is trying to deal with, because it does not only effect a select few, it effects everyone. Drunk driving amongst high school students is an enormous problem that the United States is trying to cope with. Many programs have come to surface over the past few years, that educate students on this situation. MADD, mothers against drunk driving, is a non profit