Although men still outnumber women in drunk driving arrests by four to one, a report by the FBI for the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission shows that in the decade ending 2007, there has been a 30 percent increase in women getting arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Are women under more pressure for being the sole breadwinner in a he-cession? Are television shows encouraging them to drink more? Does motherhood drive them to drink? Maybe we'll see more PSAs about women and drinking, especially after the horrific accident recently in which a woman who was found later to have been drunk, drove her minivan the wrong way down a freeway, crashing into an SUV and killing eight people.
Laura Dean-Moody, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and a widow because a drunk driver killed her husband in 1991, thinks there should be stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws. More than 2 million drivers who have multiple DUI convictions will be on the road this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Moody doesn't think they should be able to keep their licenses: "These are people who have proven not once, not twice but three times that they are not worthy of the public's trust when it comes to operating a vehicle."
Should people with multiple DUI convictions lose their driver's licenses? Why do you think there's an increase in women and DUIs?
Fat Face
Maloles
Mariano Napoli
I think our culture is more and more hedonistic.
1Let me elaborate a little bit more. I'm a member of Gen Y. When I look at the characteristics of both us and Gen-X, I see a certain stubbornness in not growing up. I'm certainly among them, as I still play hours of videogames a week.
I'm really amazed with how many people my age still are all about going out drinking every night. I think there's a certain sense that society has been made safe for us and is the playground we're entitled to. I also think, with the economy down, people turn to more puerile pastimes, like drinking.
2spacekat - that's an interesting thought, and I agree with you, but MOST of the DUIs I see are with middle aged people --- mostly men. What REALLY scares me is a 20 yo with 3 prior DUI convictions.
3Sadly I think it's just becoming more socially acceptable for young women to drink and drive, even if they get busted... Would it be fair to call it the Lohan-Richie-Hilton effect? I think seeing all these girls get off with slap-on-the-wrist sentences for dangerous crimes gives the illusion that you can commit an offense like drunk driving and never really suffer any consequences.
4I don't know why there's an increase but I do know that it's stupid to blame anyone else or anything else for someone's STUPID decision to drink and drive. It's not tv, it's not celebrities... It's your dumbass for drinking and driving.
5I do think there should be stricter laws, and that people should lose their license after ONE DUI. Maybe they could then get it back through an extensive program and a long time period or something. But at least after multiple DUI's they should lose their license!!! You are putting so many innocent people's lives at risk!!!! And it's just plain stupid. People that so blatantly have proven they are ok with putting others at risk should not be allowed the right to do so.
6As for the women part...it's probably a mixture of things, like the economy, society, etc.
I absolutely think that people with multiple DUI's should lose their licenses. You're putting yourself and everyone on the road at risk when you choose to get into the car in that state, and in my mind, there is NO excuse for it. You can ALWAYS come with an alternative to possibly killing an innocent person.
7I don't know all the penalties involved with DUI's, but I think anyone who is convicted of multiple DUI's need to lose their driver's licenses, be required to sit through education classes, and perform some hours of community service. I have absolutely no sympathy for the person who decides to endanger their life along with the lives of others. The ER receives so many patients testing positive for alcohol, pot, and other prescription drugs...it really makes me scared to drive sometimes. It's just plain irresponsible.
8The laws very by state but I think they should all be uniform.... In my state (Oregon)
1st Offense - 1 year of "alcohol education" (rehab basically) a 30 day suspension and roughly a couple thousand in court fees
OR 30 days in jail, a 1 year suspension and a 3K plus fine
2nd Offense- 1-3 year suspension, up to 1 year in jail, mandatory "ignition interlock device" (breathalizer attached to your car) and about 10K in fines
3rd Offense- license revocation (permanent) up to 5 years in jail, thousands upon thousands in fines
I know plenty of people who think their OK to drive after a couple beers or glass of wine- but personally I would rather pay 20$ for a cab than deal with getting arrested and putting myself and others in danger...
9Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.