| The simple answer is to not drink and drive, and | | | | around the world. But today we live in a time that |
| for simple people that is fine. But having worked | | | | is unique in the history of our planet. Time is |
| with persons convicted of drinking and driving | | | | speeding up so rapidly the word 'relax' is only used |
| offenses for over 20 years, I know the answer | | | | as a goal for the weekend. In 1863 Henry David |
| is not that straightforward. | | | | Thoreau published an article in the Atlantic Monthly |
| The true answer is more complicated because | | | | (originally an 1854 lecture called "What Shall it |
| alcohol is woven into the fabric our culture and | | | | Profit") in which he called for people to "Let us |
| society. It is a social problem as much as it is a | | | | consider the way in which we spend our lives." He |
| personal one. Most people's perception of a drunk | | | | discussed how idleness was considered the work |
| driver is of one who causes accidents and kills | | | | of the devil. Relaxation or the ability to be at ease |
| innocent people. This can not only be true, but | | | | is a missing component to what once was an |
| painfully so to the victims of the drunk driver. But | | | | essential part of our lives. In the days of earlier |
| if you consider the fact that only 10% of drunken | | | | America it was against societal laws to run |
| driving charges are felonies (involving injuries) that | | | | businesses on Sundays; idle days were the Law! |
| leaves 1,260,000 misdemeanor DUI arrests every | | | | Today people use chemicals for all sorts of |
| year in the U.S. | | | | solutions. Take an aspirin, take a pill, take a drug |
| Who is the 'average' drunk driver? The question | | | | and you can (and will) feel better. It's not the |
| again begs for a simple answer because if we | | | | blame of commercial and business interests; it's |
| could identify the problem driver then we could | | | | the responsibility and the irresponsibility of every |
| 'profile' him and prevent him from causing the | | | | one of us: drunk drivers, drinking drivers and |
| problems associated with drinking and driving. The | | | | ordinary drivers (sleepy ones, cell phone using |
| problem of identification, however, is in the | | | | ones, distracted drivers, busy drivers) that put us |
| question. There is no average drunk driver. Yes, | | | | in the condition we are facing today. |
| there are more men arrested for drunk driving | | | | DUI Attorneys have the job of defending those |
| than women (90% men), and a vast majority of | | | | charged with drunk driving. But the drivers need |
| offenders are between the ages of 25 and 40. | | | | to understand their behavior and take |
| But from my experience offenders are generally | | | | responsibility for their own actions. The rule of |
| 'normal' people, hard working, functional and no | | | | addiction and recovery is the rule of change itself. |
| different from most of us. About 70% of adults | | | | The rule of recovery says that you won't change |
| drink alcohol and most of those who drink, drink | | | | until you are ready. This means that you must |
| and drive... legally or not. | | | | want to change because you want something |
| If we are going to actually begin to reduce the | | | | more than what you are presently experiencing |
| negative impact drinking and driving is having on | | | | (in your life, job, marriage, relationship, family, etc). |
| our society we must look at the reason people | | | | Until individuals who drink and drive, or drive while |
| drink in the first place. We must evaluate how we | | | | distracted, suffer their fate then it will be society's |
| can moderate the degree to which people | | | | responsibility to respond and to take care of the |
| consume alcohol (and other drugs) and provide | | | | 'fall out' from these irresponsible people, through |
| alternatives that have some of the same | | | | criminal and social means, until they themselves |
| benefits. | | | | start to understand that the responsibility of one |
| For as long as history can record the activities of | | | | is the responsibility of all and the responsibility of |
| cultures and societies alcohol has reduced stress | | | | all is the responsibility of one. |
| and provided a sense of well being to people | | | | |