Introduction:

Alcohol consumption is hazardous for your health; however, it is okay as long as you know how to have a balance. You should always know when to stop. Now, grasping the hazards of drinking while driving is not quantum physics; any person with common sense knows the downsides of it. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop people from not doing it. 

How Bad Is It?

If you look at the findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9,967 Americans passed away because of driving under the influence back in 2014. You might wonder that it was almost a decade ago; the situation must have changed now. Indeed, it has, but for the worse. 13,384 individuals lost their lives to drunk driving in 2021 alone, showing a 14% rise from last year's statistics, as per the reports of NHTSA - now this is alarming. Alcohol-impaired driving is not an inevitable occurrence; it is very much preventable.

What Happens If You Drink & Drive?

• You could go from drinking at the bar to serving behind bars!

Nobody looks forward to rot in jail. Most people might not even think of it as something that could ever occur to them until they drive when drunk. When you are drunk and behind the steering, you are putting both your life and that of those on the road with you in great danger. One wrong turn and you can potentially hurt someone really badly or, worse, cost someone's life. If you are caught drunk driving, even if you haven't caused any fatality yet, you will be detained. If the breathalyzer showcases the blood-alcohol content to be greater than 0.08% - a limit set by federal law - you will immediately be charged.

• A criminal record follows you everywhere:

If you are ever found guilty of driving drunk, it will permanently show on your records. This doesn't seem like a big deal until you are sitting in an interview for a job you have aspired to pursue for so long, and your employer suddenly pulls out a criminal background check. It wouldn't reflect really nicely on you, would it? So, before you feel the urge to hit the road when you are intoxicated, ask yourself: Is it worth hampering my future opportunities?

• Causing Costly Damages:

When you are intoxicated, your whole reality is altered. You may not be under control of yourself and, hence, cause damage left and right. If you somehow manage not to cause a human injury, you can still end up causing harm to someone's property or any stationary objects, or you may pulverize your own vehicle. You would be liable to pay for the damage you impart on somebody else's property, so be ready to bear the financial expense of it. You may have to spend that car insurance money!

• You put your life at risk:

The idea that you may cause harm to someone else might be less scary than hurting your own self. The most convincing reason to never indulge in drunk driving, even as some form of "thrill," is that it increases the chances of you getting into an accident exponentially. Did you know that 37 people pass away in the US daily because of drunk-driving collisions? That makes around one death every 39 minutes of the day - scary, isn't it? Realizing that your actions may have consequences solves half the problems.

• You may lose your job:

If you are in a respectable position at work, or you work for the government in any capacity, or the municipal, you would be subjected to more scrutiny than a regular citizen since you are supposed to serve as a role model for others to follow. The law is equal for all, but being in an authoritative position, you will attract more criticism and backlash as people are constantly looking up to you. Other professions, such as those in the health line (doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists), lawyers, and police officers, also have a significant chance of losing earnings. So, if you don't want an employment termination, act responsibly!

• Your premiums will skyrocket:

Affordable car insurance will become a dream if you ever cause an alcohol-involved accident. A DUI conviction can severely affect your insurance premium rates - they are determined by examining the level of risk you pose as a driver. If you are a high-risk individual (determined based on your driving record, i.e., traffic violations and accidents), you will have to bear a greater insurance cost for your car. This is why you should never drive under the influence, because then you will be classified as a high-risk customer and have to pay higher insurance premium rates than before.

Ways To Prevent Drunk Driving Incidents:

A few ways to reduce alcohol-impaired accidents are as follows:

• Education and awareness is the first step towards a morally conscious society. Using marketing campaigns in the form of TV and social media commercials, we can reach a wider audience and spread our message.
• In order to ensure that drunk drivers do not put anybody else's life in danger on the road, there should be more sobriety checkpoints to stop it before something happens. 
• A way to induce more responsibility amongst the drivers is through raising the penalties. Once people realize that there could be huge fines, license suspensions, and other legal repercussions, they may alter their irresponsible behavior.
• We can initiate a safe ride program that focuses on the provision of low-cost and easily available transportation services for individuals who are under the influence and need to get somewhere. Mostly, these programs are sponsored by businesses, non-governmental organizations, and certain community groups.
• Like a breathalyzer, an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) detects alcohol consumption based on your BAC levels. This device is a game-changer when it comes to deterring alcohol-impaired driving. It is installed in the ignition system of the car and stops the engine from starting when it detects the driver has been drinking.

In Essence:

If we all collectively vow to be responsible citizens of the nation and take responsibility for our actions, we can help contribute to the eradication of this issue. If you ever spot someone struggling on the street, help them out and give them a ride home.