Drinking and Driving Limits
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| Sign saying "NO DRINKING AND DRIVING" |
Article by: Libby Graalum
Imagine a 21 year old driving down the busy highway, the bitter taste of their first legal alcoholic drink is in their mouth as they swerve out of control into a mother and her 3 year old as they were driving home from daycare and work. Not many people know that every minute, one person is injured(or even killed) in an alcohol related car crash. These crashes are most likely to be a result of underaged drinking, but legally driving. In the U.S, the legal driving limit is 15 with a permit and a licensed adult in the car at all times,and 16 without an adult and no other passengers in the car. Even though the law has increased safety by excluding others in the car with a driver under the age of 17, there is still the factor of whether the driver has the responsibility to handle drinking and driving as two separate actions.
If the drinking age is lowered, and the driving age is raised, will this really help our country? Some say yes.. and others say not at all. If this decision was voted on by the citizens of the USA, about 33% would want the law to pass, and 67% would say “NO!”. What do you say?
Imagine a 21 year old driving down the busy highway, the bitter taste of their first legal alcoholic drink is in their mouth as they swerve out of control into a mother and her 3 year old as they were driving home from daycare and work. Not many people know that every minute, one person is injured(or even killed) in an alcohol related car crash. These crashes are most likely to be a result of underaged drinking, but legally driving. In the U.S, the legal driving limit is 15 with a permit and a licensed adult in the car at all times,and 16 without an adult and no other passengers in the car. Even though the law has increased safety by excluding others in the car with a driver under the age of 17, there is still the factor of whether the driver has the responsibility to handle drinking and driving as two separate actions.
In Europe, the range for drinking is 15-20, the driving age is 17-20 without a parent and with a parent it’s 16-17, whereas in America, the drinking as is 21, and the driving age is 16 without a parent and with a parent it’s 15. Europe is making a good example by saying (through their laws’) that adults and teenages should learn the responsibility of drinking alcohol, before they take the duty of driving on open roads with and without a parent. Should this law be applied to America?
“I do not think that your drinking age should be lower than your driving age...It doesn’t seem right.” Says 12 year old Eva Driscoll, who wants to drive when she is 16.
“I think that it should be applied because people need to learn how to handle their alcohol before driving.” Replies Bailey Profitt, who is a 13 year old in oregon.
“...We (The USA government) should lower both ages (drinking and driving), but still drive first.” Sean Vandyke says, at age 13, with confidence that he will be driving sooner than he thought.
If the drinking age is lowered, and the driving age is raised, will this really help our country? Some say yes.. and others say not at all. If this decision was voted on by the citizens of the USA, about 33% would want the law to pass, and 67% would say “NO!”. What do you say?
Word count : 327
Sources:
http://www.2pass.co.uk/
http://www2.potsdam.edu
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Libby, this is a VERY important topic I hope all adolescents consider in the coming years. Great way to personalize an idea that needs further discussion in schools, homes, and communities.
ReplyDeleteMs. Clements