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Abstract
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This brief paper discusses the approach to the problem of alcohol-impaired drivers in Minnesota.
In Minnesota we have accepted the fact that multiple, difficult problems exist in the alcohol auto crash field. Research is progressing and problems are being answered but action is necessary now based upon what we already know.
We have accepted the fact that about 100 million people in the United States use alcohol and most combine drinking and driving at times. We accept the fact that our present system is very ineffectual in detering the alcohol impaired person from driving. We routinely and without complaint spot check overloaded vehicles but we do not spot check overloaded people. Virtually all people realize that alcohol impaired driving is against the law. They know that some degree of enforcement is carried out in all localities. Most people realize that a driving while intoxicated conviction carries with it fines and a possible jail sentence and very probably other heavy economic costs such as increased insurance bills, lawyers fees and so forth.
Practically all people know that there is a degree of social stigma for being apprehended for driving while intoxicated. Despite all this, the alcohol impaired person continues to drive. Most people continue to drink and drive because there is a natural psychological rejection of the idea that a crash is going to occur. People continue to drink and drive because most have so much self esteem that they do not think that alcohol impaired driving will be noticed. This is probably true. Most good experienced drivers have natural reflexes that carry out their routine driving skills unless some unusual or unexpected incident occurs. |