A Drunk Driving: A Short Story

Logan was on his way home from an evening at the local bar. He and some friends had gone out to have a couple beers. As he sped down the road, he blinked vigorously to try to clear his vision. Although it was a perfectly clear summer night, Logan’s vision was blurred from the alcohol. “As long as I keep this car on my side of the road, I’ll be fine,” he thought to himself. He was doing a decent job of obtaining control over the vehicle, or so he thought. Only three miles from his country home, he became unaware of his position on the road as it began to curve. As he continued around the familiar curve in the road, a truck came out of nowhere at hit Logan’s small Toyota Camry head on. The big F-350 pickup truck was no comparison to the little

car, and sent it spiraling into the opposite ditch. Although there is damage to the truck, the driver is nothing more than slightly banged up. Logan, however, is pronounced dead on the scene. His car, totaled from the collision and being thrown into a telephone pole. Unfortunately, events like this one occur much too often in today’s society. Alcohol provides people with a sense of relaxation, but it can cause that individual to be comfortable with doing things they should not, like driving. People who have been drinking are unable to judge whether they are in acceptable condition to drive or not, so they climb behind the wheel anyway. Because alcohol can severely impair a person’s basic motor skills, driving a vehicle becomes extremely dangerous. Alcohol slows a person’s reflexes and alters their coordination, so the split-second decisions sometimes needed when driving, are not present. If Logan had not been intoxicated, he would have had the ability to make a split second decision, like correcting the vehicle before being hit. When alcohol is combined with the responsibility of driving, the driver’s judgement is impaired, therefore, causing them to have less control over the vehicle. Because alcohol can effect a person’s judgement, it causes people to not consider the effects of drunk driving such as receiving a DWI ticket, causing a serious accident, and enhancing the possibility of death to themselves or an innocent person.
Because many people’s judgement is affected by alcohol, a large number of people choose to drive after they have been drinking. Today, an abundant amount of adults, and even teenagers, are regular consumers of alcohol. In fact, according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 35.1 percent of 15-year-olds reported that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives. About 8.7 million people ages 12–20 reported drinking alcohol in the past month (NIAAA). The consequences of underage drinking are severe, but risking the chance of being caught by the police can be a life changing event.
One of the risks people do not consider when drinking and driving is receiving a DWI ticket. Jeff did not think twice about climbing behind the wheel of his little s10 pickup truck. He knew it was against the law to drink and drive, but he had not drunk very much. “It won’t happen to me, I’m not even drunk.” He thought as he turned onto the familiar highway that would take him home. The road was dark and lonely, he was the only one driving at that time, or so he thought. As Jeff continued down the familiar path that would lead him to his comforting home, he began to space off. Suddenly, Jeff was not the only one on the lonely highway. He jumped, startled at the unexpected lights flashing in his rearview mirrors. Not ten minutes after starting his journey home, Jeff was caught. The officer came to his window, “Excuse me, sir. Have you been drinking tonight?” Jeff is not the only individual to be trapped in this situation, though. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 1.28 million drivers were arrested in 2012 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is a ratio of 1 for every 165 licensed drivers in the United States. Jeff knew it was illegal to drink and drive, but it thought he could get away with it. He did not think anyone would suspect he had been drinking, so he thought he would be okay. Jeff has his license suspended, and a DWI on his record. This incident could have easily been avoided, had Jeff just gotten a ride home or not drank, but instead has caused lasting complications in his life. Since he decided to make the unethical decision of climbing behind the wheel after drinking, Jeff was required to serve jail time. He was lucky, though, he got out sooner than other less fortunate law breakers. Jail is not the end of Jeff’s problems, however. This one mistake has costed him his job. How is he supposed to travel to work if he cannot drive? He doesn’t. Because he has no job, his wife now acquires the burden of paying all of the bills. Jeff skirmishes to find a new job because of his record, and transportation disputes. Jeff was one of the few lucky ones, though. It is better that the sheriff got to him before he had the chance to cause severe harm to himself or someone innocent.
Driving drunk interferes with the driver’s basic ability to safely operate a vehicle, consequently increasing their chance of getting involved in a severe accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates, “More than 10,000 young people in the United States are killed and 40,000 are injured in auto accidents when alcohol is involved” (“Understanding The Effects Of Alcohol: Drunk Driving”). Unfortunately, Jack was one of those individuals. Newly twenty-one, Jack was thrilled by the privilege to finally be able to drink legally. It was two o’clock in the morning, and the air was cold and dry. After a long evening of playing pool and enjoying drinks, Jack was now headed to his cozy home where his girlfriend was awaiting his arrival. The road was covered in a slight layer of pure white snow, as the December flurries began to set in. Jack knew there was snow on the road, so he drove along at a safe and careful speed. What he did not realize was that he slowly was gaining speed. As the alcohol began to catch up with Jack’s body, tiredness overcame him and he gradually dozed off. The next think he knew, he was lying in a hospital bed with his girlfriend apprehensively watching him. Once he regained consciousness, he was informed of his accident. He had skidded into the adjacent ditch, because of the slippery roads, and crashed into a tree line. His car looked like a piece of crumpled up wrapping paper on Christmas morning. Doctors said it was miraculous that he was even alive, but Jack was astonished to find out that he would never walk again. Although it may not seem like it to him or his family, Jack was very lucky to have had the accident he did. By making the decision to drive drunk, he could have risked an innocent individual’s

life.
Making the decision to drink and drive is an extremely selfish choice. Not only can the driver harm themselves, but they also put the lives of other drivers at risk. As Personal Injury Attorney Brett Law states, “Drunk driving is a violent crime that accounts for more than forty percent of traffic fatalities in the United States. More than 300,000 innocent victims are injured in auto accidents involving drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs” (Law). Among that forty percent is a young, bright teenage girl. It was New Year’s Eve and Katie was on her way to visit her grandmother. The night was dark and calm as she drove down the road that would take her to her welcoming destination. As soon as she saw the oncoming car in the distance, Katie switched her headlights to dim. However, the person in the approaching vehicle did not. Closing the gap between herself and the oncoming car, Katie waited irritably for the other person to dim their lights. They never did. Katie did what she was taught to do; just do not look into the lights and keep the vehicle on your side of the road. She did this, but she could tell something was not right. Then, she knew. Katie whipped the wheel to the right, but it was too late. The oncoming SUV had crossed the center line and hit Katie’s small Pontiac head on. Katie’s small car smashed into the big SUV like a bug on a windshield. She was airlifted to the hospital where she later died. As for the SUV driver, he walks away with a broken arm and a couple of cracked ribs. He also has convictions of vehicular manslaughter, a Driving While Intoxicated ticket, and the guilt of having taken someone else’s life because of his careless action.
Logan leaves behind 3 children, one of which was going to get married within the next month of his death. Because of his neglectful decision to drink and drive, Logan will not live to see his daughter walk down the aisle. He will not see his sons walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma. He will not see them graduate collage. He will not get to meet his grandchildren. He will not get to experience the joy of watching them grow into successful adults. Logan had a lot of life left in him, but because of one careless decision he will not be able to experience the joys that the future would have brought him. What is the point in risking all of that? No one wants to endure the pain and agony that comes with the consequences of drunk driving. As a grown man and father, Logan should have made the responsible decision to not drink. As former MADD President Katherine Prescott clarifies, “There is no safe blood alcohol, and for that reason responsible drinking means no drinking and driving" (Prescott). Driving drunk can take away more than just the privilege to drive, it takes lives. Although drinking and driving is common, it affects a person’s judgement and causes them to not consider the effects of drunk driving such as receiving a DWI ticket, causing a serious accident, and enhancing the possibility of death to themselves or an innocent person. People need to think about the consequences of driving drunk before climbing behind the wheel of a vehicle. No matter how tempting it may seem, think before you drink.