Drinking and Driving...

United States
June 27, 2007 12:55am CST
I got a call from a friend today, someone who I hadn't heard from since high school. At first, I thought it was a nice thing that she was calling, but I come to find out that she had some terrible news. A mutual friend of ours, someone who she was very close to and who I was familiar with and hung out with a bit in high school was killed in a car accident over the weekend. She was sideswiped by someone on the freeway who was driving under the influence. Now, this is someone who was a good person during high school, someone who worked really hard. I will admit, we partied pretty hard when we were younger, I'm sure some of you have those same kinds of stories. The thing that really bothers me about this, I mean, really, is how anyone could ever get behind the wheel drunk. I have been out drinking a quiet few times, I was a college kid not too long ago. I lived in the dorms, I've stumbled my way across campus quite a few times to get back to my room. But I have NEVER stepped behind the wheel of a car drunk. What possesses people to do so? Why can't people take enough responsibility of themselves nowadays to just let someone else drive, or to just not drive at all if they know they are getting drunk? I mean, my friend loses her promising life, and this guy gets arrested with barely a scratch. It really makes me sick.
3 responses
321633wy
@321633wy (1795)
• United States
29 Jun 07
First of all it's so sad and sorry for the incident that happened to your friend. I think every one should know "Don't drive if you drink,don't drink if you drive". A lot of people does not take it serious enough on this issue.This is the one of the reason why people lost their life when they are not suppose to...( i mean it's avoidable).It's really sad .......
thrwbckjay67
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Thank you for your kind words. I definitely think it's important that the message continue to be passed around. It's tough, but it seems like the most effective way for people to learn is when it happens to someone they know or care about. It's hard, I didn't have much contact with my friend after high school and it left me heavy-hearted. Thanks for your response!
chrischan7
@chrischan7 (1)
• Singapore
29 Jun 07
Hi! There, I'm chrischan17. I've re-register with myLot. Anyway, you still can reply to me as chrischan17. Think it's possible. Btw, I think the problem lays with the drunken person. And, do you know that, a drunken person will not said that he's been drunk. But, they will said things that they usually don't dare to said when they are awake. Some of them thinks that getting drunk will slove their problems. I'm just wondering how many of them know that, getting drunken won't get things better.
thrwbckjay67
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
29 Jun 07
Hey, welcome back to myLot, I guess! I hear what you are saying in terms of the problem being with the drunk person. It really is, I just wish there was a way to make people even more aware (as if harsh penalties and messages aren't enough) of this problem. I wish... Thanks for your response!
maehan
@maehan (1439)
• United States
27 Jun 07
That's sad. I always remember what my mom say: If drink Don't Drive.... AND, if drive Don't DRINK. It will not only hurt yourself, hurt another parties, families and more.....
thrwbckjay67
@thrwbckjay67 (2870)
• United States
29 Jun 07
My parents used to always tell me the same thing. I think they new I went to parties and drank, but they also trusted that I would do the right thing and not drive afterwards. They went so far as to tell me to call them if I needed a ride instead of driving. Thanks for your response!