Video Discussion What were some of your thoughts as you watched the video about these real drinking and driving accidents?

Video DiscussionVideo Discussion

•What were some of your thoughts as you watched the video about these real drinking and driving accidents?

The AccidentsThe Accidents

• Wreck with boys:

Boy in the front seat had his seat belt on. He suffered injuries, but he lived. Sean was thrown from the car and died; the other boy was thrown from the car and is a paraplegic (paralyzed).

The AccidentsThe Accidents• Wreck with girl driver:

– She was in a coma for three months.– She had seven major organs injured.– Her memory for previous five years was erased. (She

thought she was still in high school.)– She did not remember the college friend that was

killed in the wreck– Her learning ability is at an 8th grade level.– Her speech and walking were affected.– One passenger was killed.

Video DiscussionVideo Discussion• What were the consequences for the male

driver?– 2 counts of Second Degree Manslaughter = 10

years in prison, suspended after 4 years– 5 years probation– DWI charge: lost license for 9 years– Charged with speeding and reckless driving– 1,000 hours of community service– Made to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)– Random drug testing

0 Tolerance0 Tolerance

• Felony Conviction: jail time is guaranteed if someone dies in a drinking and driving accident no matter what the age of the driver.

• How long did he get away with drinking and driving?

3 Years!

Drivers who have been drinking:Drivers who have been drinking:

• Feel more confident of self and driving skills

• Feel more aware and feel reflexes are better

• May drive faster than normal

Video DiscussionVideo Discussion• The boys were less than two miles from

home.

• The male driver was speeding. In a 25 mph speed limit, he admitted driving 75-80 mph.

• The female driver was going 50-60 mph in a 35 mph zone.

StatisticsStatistics• Drinking and driving car accidents are the

leading cause of death for American teenagers.• In the year 2002, 2,353 teenagers died in

alcohol-related car accidents. In 2003, 2,283 teens died in alcohol-related car accidents.

• For all age groups, there were 17,380 deaths in 2000. These deaths (in 2000) were the biggest increase in alcohol-related deaths on record.

StatisticsStatisticsAfter 2000, there was a decrease in deaths

for alcohol-related car accidents

• 2001 – 17,448

• 2002 – 17,419

• 2003 – 17,105

• 2004 – 16,694

StatisticsStatistics

• This accounts for 41% of the deaths in car crashes.

• In the U.S, one person is killed every 30 minutes in a alcohol-related car accident.

StatisticsStatisticsDeaths increased again in 2005: 17,525

And according to preliminary data from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• 2006: 17,941 people died in alcohol-related car accidents, which is an increase from 2005 .

Drugged DrivingDrugged Driving

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than17,000 people are killed annually due to drunk and drugged driving.

• Furthermore, NHTSA estimates that drugs are used by approximately 10 to 22% of drivers involved in crashes, often in combination with alcohol.

Drugged DrivingDrugged Driving

• According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated

10.9 million people reported driving under the influence of an illicit drug during the year prior to being surveyed.

Source: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving.html

Boating and ATVs Boating and ATVs

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission studies show that 30% of all ATV riders killed in accidents had been drinking.

http://www.atvsafety.org/ - Safe Riding Practices: Tips for the ATV Rider

• Alcohol use is the 6th leading cause of deaths in boating accidents.

http://www.commanderbob.com/cbstats.html - Accident Statistics

• Vision: Alcohol relaxes eye muscles, which make it harder to focus and see clearly. Blurred vision is often a result of drinking alcohol.

• Reaction Time: Drinking alcohol slows down reaction time.

How would that affect a person’s driving ability?

• Coordination: Drinking alcohol affects a person’s ability to do motor skills, such as catching a ball, walking a straight line.

Is coordination required

to drive a car safely?

• Low level – less than .06 BAL

• Moderate level - .07 - .10 BAL

• High – over .17 - .20 BAL

• Extreme - over .25 BAL

• Double Vision – over .20 BAL and some other drugs

• Did you make adjustments/changes when you drove with the goggles on?

Drove slower

• What is the difference between driving the golf cart and a car?– We were driving it much more slowly than we would

drive a car.– You could look over the edge to see the cones and

avoid them.– Some drivers stopped completely during the obstacle

course.– There were no oncoming traffic / ditches to avoid.

• You drove the with the Low Level goggles on.

How many drinks would that be for you?

http://www.intox.com/wheel/drinkwheel.asp

• Is a person’s driving ability affected at blood alcohol levels below .08 (the legal limit for DWI)?

• Is there a “safe” amount that a person can drink and drive?