What can we do to prevent drunk driving in the United States?
Today, if you do any type of news search on the Internet for “DUI,” chances are you will find many articles that talk about celebrities who have been caught drinking and driving. Somehow it has become the norm for Hollywood actors or famous athletes to be arrested for DUI. At the time of this writing, the latest news is that Paris Hilton’s brother, Barron Hilton, has been arrested in Malibu for drunk driving. News reports say the 18-year-old was pulled over in his Mercedes and is now booked at the Lost Hill Sheriff’s station.
Will the madness ever end?
If you remember, Paris Hilton was charged with DUI a little over a year ago. He was reported to have said that his DUI arrest was “just nothing.” Is this the same attitude your brother has about his drunk driving arrest? Would it have been something if another person was injured or killed? However, it’s not just celebrities who take drunk driving lightly. It seems like these days everyone in America thinks drunk driving is no big deal.
Do we blame the current government for not creating harsher jail sentences and penalties for drunk driving? Do we blame society for not taking drinking and driving seriously enough? Aren’t there enough public service announcements to educate kids about the dangers of drunk driving? Do you think things would change if celebrities had to do public service announcements as part of their DUI penalty? Do you think these celebrities have an obligation to be good role models for our children? These are the kind of questions we should be asking ourselves if we want to improve safety on our roads.
There are some initiatives underway right now to combat this drunk driving epidemic. Car companies like Nissan are working on installing technology that detects alcohol in a person’s body when they get behind the wheel. Additionally, the state of New Mexico mandated talking urinals which were installed in various establishments throughout the state. These talking urinal cakes broadcast public service announcements while someone uses the bathroom. Time will only tell if these ideas will work or not.
What do you think should be done to prevent drunk driving in the United States? Should there be less alcohol consumption in movies and TV shows? Should we start holding celebrities accountable for their actions and giving them harsher sentences?