The National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB) believes that it's crucial for everyone convicted of a DUI to have ignition interlock devices installed into their car - even for a first offense. They say that "such a policy could be a major factor in preventing traffic collision deaths, especially those occurring in accidents caused by a wrong-way driver" seeing as 60% of wrong way driver accidents are caused by drunk drivers.
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Others are saying that it's too much to make the interlock devices mandatory for all first time offenders, though currently 17 states require interlocks for first-time offenders. The alcoholic beverage industry opposes a blanket requirement for first-time offenders, but it supports restrictions for people who have registered exceptionally high blood-alcohol levels.
Both the Distilled Spirits Council and the American Beverage Institute, which represents restaurant chains, support ignition interlocks for first-time convictions of people who posted a blood-alcohol content of .15 or higher.
“The first step to address the number one killer on our roadways is to do what is proven to be effective -- use interlocks for all DWI offenders,” said Deborah Hersman, chairman of the NTSB.
"We believe that judges should be able to distinguish between someone who is one sip over the limit and someone has had nine drinks prior to driving. There should not be a one-size-fits-all penalty for DUI offenders," said Sarah Longwell, managing director of the American Beverage Institute.
Though with drunk driving fatalities actually on the decline is it important for all first time offenders to have such a device? Some say that it's just too expensive and many states that have strict laws don't enforce them because of the cost.
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As the holidays are approaching, there are bound to be more needless drunk driving accidents happening. Here are some idea on how to prevent drunk driving this holiday season.
-Raise Fines: Drunk drivers are typically charged between $7,000-$10,000 for a first offense. Raising fines to $15,000-$20,000 and increase them by thousands of dollars for subsequent offenses should help deter offenders.
-Ignition Interlock Device: If you installed them in every first offender’s vehicle it would accomplish two things at once; it works like a breathalyzer to assess a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) and then it overrides a car’s ignition so it won’t start if alcohol is present in the driver’s system. It’s a very effective deterrent to drunken driving behavior.
-Buy A Breathalyzer: Some places that serve alcohol have breathalyzer tests available. This way if you're not sure how much you've had, or you've been drinking steadily over a period of time, you can text yourself before you get into your vehicle and know if you're ok or not. But it's important with this to remember that everyone has a different limit. You might have a BAC of .04 and still be too buzzed to drive.
So just remember this holiday season, be careful drinking. Know your limits and know when to stop to give yourself enough time to sober up before driving home. Get a designated driver if possible, and DON'T let anyone who you know is drunk get behind the wheel! They're not just putting their own lives at risk, but anyone on the road!
Nearly 12,000 individuals die each year in America due to drunk driving accidents.
Over 900,000 people are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, and a full 1/3 of them are repeat offenders.
Be smart and be safe.
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Gabrielle Moreau, 22, was charged with her second count of drunk driving recently in Shrewsbury, MA. On top of that, she is also being charged with child endangerment while driving drunk, a marked lanes violation and negligent driving.
A state police trooper reported first encountering Ms. Moreau shortly before midnight after responding to a call about a motor vehicle with no lights on being off the roadway on Interstate 290.
The trooper who arrived found the vehicle parked up an embankment. The trooper also stated there was a strong liquor smell and, upon checking the vehicle, a glass Bud Light bottle was in plain view at the foot of her j2 year-old toddler's car seat. Moreau refused a breath test, according to police.
While Moreau was treated at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for injuries sustained in the accident, her daughter was taken into state custody by The State Department of Children and Families (DCF).
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