Focus on the Big Killer
Drunk Drivers Need to be Worried About First
Though second-hand smoke is a killer, lawmakers should take care of "the bigger fish" first and do something more about drunk drivers.
Some of the “powers that be” in Washington D.C. are trying to abolish smoking in public buildings because second-hand smoke kills.
Drunk driving kills too. According to the CDC alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes kill someone every 31 minutes and injure someone every 2 minutes in this country. It’s doubtless that second-hand smoke kills in that excess, so why not focus on alcohol?
The media claims that tobacco “giants” are running the show; essentially blaming them for these tobacco banning bills failing in Congress. Consider the fact that 54% of fatalities were caused by drunk drivers in Washington D.C. in 2005. What group makes up a large population of Washington D.C.? Right, that would be the lawmakers of this great country. Could it be that lawmakers who indulge in drinking and then get behind the wheel are to blame for over half of the auto accident fatalities in the Nation’s Capitol? It seems that the focus should be on alcohol and measures to stop drunk driving and how to save lives.
This country attempted prohibition once, it failed and it wouldn’t be feasible to attempt again, however lawmakers need to focus on stopping drunk drivers, making first convictions more rigid and increasing the man power to make those convictions.
In 2005 nearly 1.4 million drivers were arrested for drunk driving according to The Department of Justice. That sounds like a lot until one considers the fact that 1.4 million is less than 1% of the 159 million reported drunk driving accidents.
Anti-smoking advocates always throw out a dollar amount telling how much second-hand smoke costs the U.S. According to the CDC based on numbers from 2001 alcohol-related crashes in this country cost about 51 billion dollars. Imagine what that cost has escalated to in the last 6 years.
In Bangor Maine a new law was recently passed outlawing smoking in any vehicle with a child in it. But what about the 200+ children who were killed in drunk driving accidents, (according to the Dept. of Justice) they were riding in vehicles driven by drunk drivers?
If police can ticket or arrest adults for smoking in a vehicle with a child in it, shouldn’t they be doing something more about the adults who are drinking and driving with a child in the vehicle?
Not to mention the fact that most victims of second-hand smoke have a choice ~ there are smoke free restaurants to dine in. Non-smokers can choose not to sit in places where smoking is allowed. Unfortunately drivers and passengers on the roadways don’t have any choice at all, there aren’t any drunk-driver free roads.
