Scootergirl, that is definitely the saddest story I've read in a LONG time. I drive a pretty treacherous mountain road every day to get to and from work, so that story touches my heart even more, for both myself and my girlfriend are concerned about my safety. I can only imagine how painful this has been for you through the years - my thoughts are with you.
I do understand the message JWS is laying on the table, however. The drunk drivers that cause accidents most frequently have levels way over the legal limit. Also, the alcohol coupled with the stupidity that "they've done this before" and still attempt to drive as fast contributes to them having accidents - their confidence is too high and their gaurd is down. A "drunk" driver ("drunk" to me implies not being able to walk in a straight line, speech extremely slurred, loud talking, chances of passing out and/or getting sick) is extremely dangerous, stupid and un-called for. Impaired driving is less dangerous when done by somebody who has the wits about him to realize the seriousness of the situation and concentrates on every aspect of his/her driving. That still does not make it okay and that seems to be the point that everyone is missing. It's not okay, but at the same time you must realize too, like JWS pointed out, that several things can qualify as "impaired driving" such as cell phone use, reaching for a CD, etc. These things too are distracting, which lead to accidents just as frequently as someone who takes their eye off of the road at the wrong time, unfortunately. OR someone's who's level is just over the legal limit....that is an assumption though.
I wonder if there are any surveys done that compare the casualties from accidents involving cell phone and/or other distractions in the car with impaired drivers that were a tenth of a point (or two) over the legal limit. I would think you'd find the results quite comparable.
Personally, the way some people drive, they should never even THINK about trying to use a cell phone while driving, others have the skills and awareness to be able to do both in a safe manner. It's all about driving skills - people have different levels - try to have a 15 year old dial a number on their cell phone while learning to drive and you'll end up in an accident 9 times out of 10. Have a race car driver do it and I bet you'd feel a LOT safer. Why? Because he's a trained, professional driver who knows how to handle himself (and the car) behind the wheel. Give him one beer and put him behind the wall, and then do the same with a young boy or girl, or someone w/ Turrett's Syndrome, or an elderly person who's vision is impaired, and who would you say is more prone to be in an accident? Granted, none of them should be driving due to the alcohol in their system, but chances are very high that a race car driver with one beer in his system is not going to run an intersection or swerve over the double line, whereas the probability of the others mentioned doing it would be significantly greater.
So, I think that people shouldn't drive at all with alcohol in their blood - it's just a lot safer that way. The roads are dangerous enough being completely sober. However, I feel more emphasis should be put on drivers that are not "solid" drivers that do unsafe things behind the wheel besides drinking, for they are just as dangerous. Not to mention people that are high on some sort of drug while driving - not a good idea. My ex-girlfriend is a paramedic and can tell you all kinds of horrible stories of young kids coming home from raves high on ecstasy and getting into accidents.
My sympathies to those who've lost loved ones in car accidents due to drunk driving or any other cause for that matter. I wish the justice system was actually a justice system when serving sentences to these people. They need to feel the pain the caused others, and I don't know how that can be done if they aren't sent to prison for an extended period of time. Driving is serious business....
Regards,
back2dafront
