Spring Break
Living consequences prevent drunk driving
Megan Lynch
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Commentary
This seems like a great way to educate young people in the harms of drunk driving. Nevertheless, with all the gruesome things on TV and video games, young people these days are desensitized to reality. This generation needs to see things up close and personal to make it real, regardless of the shock value of the image.
Misty Moyse of MADD National Communications said one of the most effective methods they use to combat drunk driving are typically more proactive. She said that sobriety checkpoints are very effective in preventing accidents before they happen. Another tactic is placing tracking devices in the vehicles of people previously convicted of drunk driving. With the tracking system, 64 percent of people do not repeat their offenses. Moyse also said that they do use a great deal of education, Harn was not the way to go because she was upsetting people.
Usually when people are upset by something, it's because of a certain thought or emotion the situation brings out of them. In this case, it should make people feel afraid to ever hurt someone that badly, or maybe guilt from previously driving when you have had one too many. These are the feelings alcohol prevention education needs to arouse in people, whether they have already been caught driving drunk, or if they are just getting their license for the first time.
Everyone knows that drunk driving is illegal. They hear it repeatedly. But how much more effective would drunk driving lectures be with real examples of people who have been paralyzed and brain damaged from an accident like Rose Harn? If drivers see those images over and over again, maybe that's what they will remember before they go out drinking without a designated driver or think that they're fine after five beers. More families of drunken accident victims need to stand up and make their stories heard, regardless of whether or not the public wants to hear it.
Misty Moyse of MADD National Communications said one of the most effective methods they use to combat drunk driving are typically more proactive. She said that sobriety checkpoints are very effective in preventing accidents before they happen. Another tactic is placing tracking devices in the vehicles of people previously convicted of drunk driving. With the tracking system, 64 percent of people do not repeat their offenses. Moyse also said that they do use a great deal of education, Harn was not the way to go because she was upsetting people.
Usually when people are upset by something, it's because of a certain thought or emotion the situation brings out of them. In this case, it should make people feel afraid to ever hurt someone that badly, or maybe guilt from previously driving when you have had one too many. These are the feelings alcohol prevention education needs to arouse in people, whether they have already been caught driving drunk, or if they are just getting their license for the first time.
Everyone knows that drunk driving is illegal. They hear it repeatedly. But how much more effective would drunk driving lectures be with real examples of people who have been paralyzed and brain damaged from an accident like Rose Harn? If drivers see those images over and over again, maybe that's what they will remember before they go out drinking without a designated driver or think that they're fine after five beers. More families of drunken accident victims need to stand up and make their stories heard, regardless of whether or not the public wants to hear it.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
They're people not tools
posted 10/09/08 @ 9:23 AM EST
It may be the way the article was written, but the fact that the husband refers to his wife as a "tool" when she is still alive and apparently aware of her surroundings seems inappropriate. (Continued…)
Lisa Pane
posted 10/09/08 @ 10:07 AM EST
I'd recommend bringing her to campus to speak.
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