In the summer of 2011, on the 215 freeway heading home from church is my cousin and her 5 children. Not knowing this would be the last day to see her son. It happened so fast she couldn’t believe it. They were hit by a drunk driver. Injured four kids and killed one innocent child at the age of five. Every year we tend to lose a loved one due to those that choose to drive under the influence. In 2010, 1,768 people died in California due to traffic crashes that were a result of alcohol and other drugs. Drunk driving kills a large amount of people every year. Drinking and driving not only puts one’s life on the line, but also endanger the life of innocent people in the around them. According to the State of California, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle if the percentage of alcohol is .01. “Drunk driving laws in The State of California are similar to many other DUI laws across the United States. California's DUI law prohibits a person from driving when they have a concentration of .08 percent or more alcohol in their blood system. This is the standard measurement used by all states for the "impaired" drive.” (drivinglaw.org) Also in the state of California, the department of motor vehicle will suspend your license once you convicted a second offender DUI. You will be required to take a “Driving Under Influence” (DUI) class.
Drinking and driving can results in impairment of the motor skills. I know for a fact that when one is under the influence, the brain function starts to slow down. It will also affect some decision making, for an example: switching lanes on the freeway without checking if the lane is clear. And one of the most common ones is speeding and pulling stunts. It is important that we work together as a community to prevent these things before it happens. We need to put the message out there, No one has the right to drive a motor vehicle while under any influence whether it be a .02 or a .8. I strongly believe that whether it is a first offender or a second, a breathalyzer should be install in one’s motor vehicle. Many drive under the influence without planning it. Any bar or club serving alcohol should have driving services available for those who don’t have a designated driver. It would lower the chances of them having to get in there cars and drive. Better yet, if they are there to drink, they should turn there keys in, that way they can’t leave without the services. Although it’s going to be hard to do any adjustment, it should be