(U-WIRE) – It’s an unsettling reality that every day people get behind the wheel tanked up on their favorite sense-impairing liquid.
With a deep breath and countless claims of “I’m alright to drive, man,” they set out on the road unaware of how dangerous they really are.
Sometimes they make it home unscathed, while other times they wind up slapped with heavy fines or a smashed vehicle. Or, even worse, they kill or injure an innocent bystander or themselves.
The possibility of things going wrong is inevitable.
Prohibition is out the question – and we’re in no way calling for that – but there is an alternative.
It’s called a designated driver, and the person doesn’t necessarily have to be among the imbibed individual’s legion of friends.
The University of Missouri-Columbia provides a service called STRIPES (Supportive Tigers Riding In Pursuit of Ensuring Safety). It is a volunteer-based service for Mizzou students to drive drunken people,and their cars, home safely.
The city of San Diego – and many others – has a group of volunteers who make sure a person and his or her car make it to their intended destination.
In San Diego, volunteers meet the person requesting the ride outside the bar or party. One volunteer drives the person’s vehicle home, and the other drives the tipsy one back home.
To fund the operation and to discourage abuse, volunteers ask for money. It might cost more than a cab ride, but the person being transported won’t have to worry about their vehicle.
Starting up such a program would not mean the university or local government is endorsing alcohol use.
It would mean the school or city is accepting the reality that people entertain themselves with alcohol, and unsafe roads are oftentimes the product. It would also be a commendable step for both entities as they would make it clear they are concerned about the well-being of students and citizens.
If such a program existed, DUIs would decrease, drunken driving accidents would be less prevalent and people would feel safer on the road.
And of course, anyone who was intoxicated would be grateful the next day that they woke up at home, instead of in jail.
We want people to enjoy themselves, but we also want people to be safe.
We know what alcohol can do. It’s clear that even a couple drinks affects a person’s judgment and ability to do simple and otherwise routine tasks such as driving.