Thanks for the rant. I would also add that it is my belief that the concentration and continual harping on “drunk drivers” is actually causing the roadways to become more hazardous. I don’t have any way to back it up with stats, or links, but I believe that the general population has heard about the “dangerous drunk driving” for so long, while there is no other discussion about dangerous driving habits, that the general perception is that the only dangerous driving is “drunk driving.”
I contend that people are forgetting how dangerous it is to handle tons of moving steel, they figure that since they aren’t drunk they can’t be dangerous. I find it reprehensible that a driver can be rear ended by a sober driver, and then have a BAC of 0.08 and be the one charged at fault for the car wreck.
I’ve had 2 friends killed by sober drivers. One had dumped his motorcycle and was being attended to on the shoulder of a 2 lane highway when an impatient elderly man decided traffic was to slow so he decided to drive on the shoulder, only to run my friend over and kill him at the scene. The other friend was on his way to work one morning and was stopped in traffic on I94. A lady was texting and never noticed that traffic was at a stand still, she rear ended him at 60+ MPH and killed him instantly, leaving his widow with 2 infants and a baby to raise on her own.
In both cases, the murderers received less time than a typical DUI 3rd offense that never caused personal or property damage to anyone. Yes, multiple DUI’s is an indication of a problem, but when no damage is caused then it becomes clear that the concentration is on revenue enhancement.
My opinion is that any driver that causes personal or property damage should be held to the same standard. I also am of the opinion that there is no such thing as a car “accident.” I consider all car wrecks to be caused by someone’s negligence. All wrecks, regardless of level of sobriety, should be aggressively prosecuted. I honestly think that this would make our roads safer.
Yes, great post in pointing out the incrementalism of the BA limits and in general, the philosophy of the nannyists in going draconian after you’ve given them an inch.
Now, 2 beers or glasses of wine will set you over the line.
And, it’s certain that more sober drivers than drunks have car accidents! If you match the percentages of drunks who have accidents versus the percentage of sober drivers who have accidents, drunks do pretty good.