DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
Specific Purpose Statement:
Thesis Statement: Drunk driving is the leading cause of thousands of accident-related deaths that occur every year.
Introduction
I. Attention-Getting Device: In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that out of almost 33,000 traffic-related crashes in the United States, more than 10,000 of the people died due to drunken driving crashes. The figure accounted for 31% of all traffic deaths that year (FAAR).
II. Purpose and Thesis: Drunk driving is the leading cause of thousands of accident-related deaths that occur every year. With the increasing number of deaths related to drunk driving, it is important that we take notice of the figures and begin taking the matter seriously. We cannot just stand still and watch innocent people die because of selfish, reckless, and irresponsible individuals who should know the limits of drinking and the laws governing it. I would like to encourage all of you to be more vigilant in disseminating information about the ill effects of drinking then driving.
III. Credibility and Relational Connection: Why is it important to understand the negative effects of drunk driving? Because it does not only affect the victims and their families. It also affects all of us considering that we, or any member of our family, could be the next victims. I have seen strangers’ lamentations upon seeing members of their families encountering such terrible fates and it breaks my heart every time media shows them on television.
IV. Orientation Phase: Drunk driving is the act of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. When an individual is under the influence, it gives the individual false confidence that he or she is capable of handling any situation, including driving a vehicle. The reason for this is that alcohol impairs the brain, which results in poor judgment and reasoning. This false confidence stems from the ability to drive a couple of blocks and believing that if they were able to do it the first time, the succeeding times won’t be any different.
V. Impact of the Topic and Speech: You may have witnessed some of your friends drink alcohol, which is more than what their bodies could handle. Their reasons could vary from wanting to become part of the “in” group to plain false confidence. What if one of these days you, or anyone you know, encounter such an episode? Would you stop your friend from drinking more alcohol? Would you risk becoming labeled a “party poop” if you attempt to stop them from drinking? Think about it. What if you are the next victim of drunk driving? Would you live the ordeal and survive to tell your story? You do not have to wait for that to happen. You can act now.
VI. Enumerated preview: If you have to drink, then don’t drive. Instead, ask someone to drive for you. Remember that alcohol impairs your judgment and driving under the influence could result to prosecution.
All states in America have a legal limit when it comes to alcohol consumption.
VII. Transition: Then why drive when drunk and then figure in a motor mishap when you can be healthy and enjoying your life?
Body
I. If you have to drink, then don’t drive. Instead, ask someone else to drive in your place.
- Drunk driving impairs your judgment and slows down your motor skills.
- When individuals drive even after consuming high levels of alcohol, it becomes difficult for them to think straight and provide logical answers to questions.
- Drunk driving results to strong alcohol smell and slurred speech, thus, when apprehended, the arresting officer will require you to exit your vehicle and move to another side of the road to see if you are physically able to drive your vehicle (quitalcohol.com).
- Drunk driving could result to accidents that could have been avoided had the driver not been drunk.
1. In 2009, more than 10,000 lives were lost due to alcohol-related accidents. This number pertains to the number of people that fall victims of accidents and not necessarily the actual number of individuals arrested for drinking and driving or total number of accidents per se (quitalcohol.com).
2. In 2007, the number of car accidents was around 2200, which were all DUI-related accidents. This accounts to more than half the car accidents that happened in the state.
Transition: If you really have to drink then you have to follow the alcohol limit set by the government for drinkers.
II. All states in America have a legal limit when it comes to alcohol consumption.
- “The legal limit for drunk driving is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of level of .08” (Buddy T).
- There is a possibility of figuring in a car accident if an individual reaches a BAC of .08.
- For some people, impairment begins even after only one glass of alcohol intake. (Buddy T).
- BAC of .02 and .05 results to an individual experiencing some loss of judgment and demonstrate exaggerated behavior, respectively.
- These BAC levels are enough to make people react slowly than is necessary, thus, could be serious during emergency situations.
- People have varying levels of intoxication.
Transition: According to studies, college students often figure in accidents relating to drunk-driving.
III. College-level students are more predisposed to alcohol-impaired driving.
- The number of binge drinkers has increased tremendously resulting to overconsumption of alcohol among college students (Glatter).
- Based on a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (CAS), “three out of ten college students drove after drinking” (“Alcohol and College Students Drinking Fact Sheet”).
- In states that enforce strict restrictions on alcohol consumption, underage drinking remains low.
- “Young drivers are over represented in both alcohol- and non-alcohol traffic related fatality rates” (“Alcohol and College Students Drinking Fact Sheet”).
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that fatality rates involving adolescents aged 18-20 years old are almost twice as great as the population for over 21 drinkers (“Alcohol and College Students Drinking Fact Sheet”).
- Alcohol is a major factor in fatal car accidents (“Teenage Drinking”).
Transition: Drunk driving, regardless of age, results to more wasted lives.
Conclusion
I. Wrap-Up Signal: Drunk driving is a serious problem. If drivers follow age restrictions and limits when it comes to alcohol consumption, then more people would not waste their lives just because of a vehicle accident.
II. Restatement of Thesis: Drunk driving is the leading cause of thousands of accident-related deaths that occur every year.
III. Summary of Main Points: Drunk driving is the leading cause of death now according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States. It impairs the brain and gives people a false belief that they are capable of doing what they are used to do when sober.
If an individual has to drink, it would be best that he or she ask someone else to drive in order to avoid accidents.
American states have established acceptable limits to alcohol consumption and yet, accidents still occur.
IV. Audience Motivation: Considering the above scenario, I encourage everyone to take heed and help in curbing the incidence of drunken driving by educating the young about the ill effects of the situation.
V. Relational Reinforcement: Doing so benefits not only the victims and their families, but all of us as well.
VI. Clincher Statement: Would you like to bear witness to more of these accidents? I surely do not want to see more.
References
“Alcohol and college students drinking fact sheet.” (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.alcohol101plus.org/downloads/CollegeStudents.pdf
Buddy T. (2013).Why you should never drink and drive. About.com. Retrieved from http://alcoholism.about.com/od/dui/a/impaired.htm
Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility [FAAR]. (n.d.). Drunk driving fatalities – national statistics. Retrieved from http://responsibility.org/drunk-driving/drunk-driving-fatalities-national-statistics
Glatter, R. (2014). Update on binge drinking among college students: From bad to worse. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/03/11/update-on-binge-drinking-among-college-students-from-bad-to-worse/
Quitalcohol.com. (n.d.) The dangers of drinking and driving. Retrieved from http://www.quitalcohol.com/dangers-of-drinking-and-driving.html
“Teenage drinking.” (n.d.). Helpguide.org. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/alcohol_teens.htm
