Drunk driving is a punishable offence responsible for many casualties

In my opinion, there is never any excuse for operating a car when unfit to do so.

The average cost of a drunk driving fatality is $32 million

I think drunk driving is every bit as bad as putting a gun to someone's head. A car in the hands of a drunk is a lethal weapon.

In the UK, an organization made up of Mothers of victims of drunk driving are campaigning to get harsher prison sentences for those who kill someone as a result of their driving over the limit. Sometimes, the sentences laid down seem remarkably lenient. It's not just a question of punishment, I think that these prison terms send out the wrong message. It's as if to say drunk driving is understandable and just one of those things.

Responsibility is the key here. Clearly, people have to take responsibility for themselves. There's always a window of opportunity at some point when someone is in sufficient control of themselves to realize that they are not fit to drive.

Drunk Driving Punishment: A first offense will typically involve the following punishment: "Drunk Driving" alcohol program for approximately 60 days $1,500.00 fine License restriction Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) lecture Probation

Better still, don't take a car in the first place. Alternatively, appoint a designated driver to stay sober. I think too that bar owners should be more aware of their responsibilities. Some of them keep serving people who are visibly incapable, and drunk driving is the result.

It would solve the problem if every vehicle had some sort of disabling device to stop people from drunk driving. This is something worthwhile for technology experts to work on. They could invent something which detects alcohol within the car and disables the ignition until the driver does a breath test. If the test shows over the limit levels of alcohol, the ignition will be permanently unworkable. Then, an alarm would sound which would alert the police to a near drunk driving situation. Problem solved!

Driving under the influence of drugs is also a growing problem and gets overlooked by the emphasis on drinking. Often, there is a combination of both. The properties of cannabis, for example, mean that cannabis stays in the bloodstream for longer than alcohol. People think they are ok to drive, when in fact, it's still in their system.

Drunk driving accidents across the country contribute to thousands of preventable injuries each year. Parents should make a special effort in telling and warning their children and imbibe in them the importance of behaving as a responsible citizen

Until the technology is invented, society will have to tackle this social menace head on. There needs to be longer sentencing and more education of the public. Announcements on the dangers of drunk driving at Christmas vacation time are not enough. These advertisements should be on national television all the year round. Schoolchildren should receive lessons on the subject, so the next generation of drivers really will have no excuse.