Even though the public has had a thirty year ongoing conversation about drinking and driving - it seems that the phenomenon of alcohol fueled fatality accidents is no closer to being a distant memory than it was 3 decades ago.
Research shows that (unbelievably) 66% of highway fatalities were alcohol related in 1982 and today, 42% of highway fatalities are alcohol related. I don't think it's a stretch to say that we've made little progress in curbing the disaster of people who continue to drive while they are intoxicated. It was only a few years ago when some very popular political figures in Texas OPPOSED the open container law in Texas.
Consider the circumstances of these recent reports of drunk driving accidents - and then ask yourself - would I drink and drive if I knew this would be the outcome?
Four teens are killed at the hands of a woman who had downed several pints of vodka and chased it down with other types of alcohol.
A 69 year old man killed a popular teacher in a drunk driving, hit and run accident. He was sentenced to 2 - 4 years in prison. The family received life without their loved one.
A female police officer was charged with a hit and run DWI when she allegedly killed a homeless man after an evening of drinking and then left the scene of the accident.
The incident was reported to have been caught on the video camera of a local establishment - thereby allowing fellow officers to track down the suspect.
One couple in Alaska summed it up very nicely when they said that a drunk driving fatality accident captures the hearts and minds of the public for a few days then it is forgotten - until the next crash.
They have penned a free book aptly titled - Soul Shaking Grief - a Victim's Memorial. The sum it up simply - as long as we live in a free society that makes it hard to stop people from getting behind the wheel of their vehicle when they are drunk then we will continue to lose innocent men, women and children to their recklessness.
A Houston area family that lost their daughter in a drunk driving accident have started Krystas Karing Angles which takes wrecked cars around the community to show young drivers first hand the reality of drunk driving accidents. It is a great charity and i urge you to support them.
http://krystaskaringangels.com
Greg Baumgartner is a drunk driving accident attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Texas call the Baumgartner firm.
