The Nexus

Despite all the advertising, publicity and educational campaigns aimed at prevention over the past decade, the number of drunk driving fatalities nationally have not decreased. With one death every 39 minutes and a total of 13,000 Americans killed by drunk drivers each year, authorities are calling it an epidemic.

Part of the problem with the rise of this epidemic is that the current system does not deter people from the deadly idea. To lower drunk driving fatalities, people need to instill stricter sentences with serious jail time.

According to 60 Minutes, pioneer Kathleen Rice, the District Attorney of Nassau County, New York, have given harsher sentences on drunk drivers who kill people that penalties such as 15 years to life in prison are unheard of in the past.

According to Rice and other authorities, the decision to drive drunk and kill someone is the same as shooting a person who is five feet from you.

One of Rice’s cases occurred on July 1, 2005 in Long Island where 7-year-old Katie Flynn and her family were in a limo when Martin Heidgen, the drunk driver of the pick-up truck, came barreling down the wrong side of the road. He crashed into them, beheading Flynn and causing life-threatening injuries to her family. The driver of the limo was also crushed to death.

Heidgen’s blood alcohol content was three times higher than the legal limit.

Because of his decision to drive and his corrupt indifference to human life, Rice charged Heidgen with second-degree murder, a sentence requiring 15 years to life in prison.

Others may argue that prosecutors like Rice are watering down the definition of murder and turning society’s sons and daughters into murderers. They argue that it’s an unintentional act that was caused by the alcohol alone; without the alcohol, the fatal accident wouldn’t have happened.

However, drivers make the choice of intoxicating themselves. Whether drunk or not, they are responsible for their decision to drive and for the risk they’re taking when driving drunk.

The use of in-car interlock devices will also prevent intoxicated drunk drivers from repeatedly harming themselves and others. The device requires intelligent recognition of the driver and mandatory breath-testing before ignition. If the result is higher than the programmed blood alcohol concentration, commonly 0.2 percent or 0.4 percent, the vehicle will not start.

People drink and drive because they feel they are capable of driving after drinking when they actually might not be. The implementation of interlock devices, and the push for stiffer sentences will make people think twice before getting behind the wheel.