Drunk Driving

Archie McLennan

April 2, 2024

Brookings Oregon is a small town, home to the Chetco river.. It is said to be the most southern coastal town in Oregon. 

Drunk driving is an issue for Brookings and many other towns and cities. The number of people that die from drunk driving is astronomical. People don't understand how dangerous drunk driving can be. Residents of Brookings should take this problem seriously.

“Adults consume adult beverages then make the poor decision to get behind the wheel,” Officer Ray Branion of the Brookings Police Department said.

Drunk driving used to be more common because people didn't fully understand its dangers. In the past, drinking alcohol and driving weren't seen as serious problems, so there were fewer rules and less punishment for it. This made drunk driving happen more often.

Nowadays, things have changed. 

People know more about how dangerous it is to drive after drinking. Governments and organizations have worked hard to teach everyone about the risks. 

They've also made stricter rules and use technology like sobriety checkpoints to catch drunk drivers. These efforts have helped reduce drunk driving and save lives, but it's still important to keep educating and enforcing the rules to make sure it stays that way.

As a small town that suffers from this problem as a community, we should find out a way to get rid of DUI’s altogether, whether it be the DUI checks or having just more strict rules. 

The Central California Police Department “would stop every car and check for impairment. they would do it on the major holidays,” Branion said. He believed these strategies really helped lessen the number of drunk drivers on the roads.

Some people still suffer from PTSD from a car crash or just drinking in general. 

If you have a problem or need help there are still ways out. Go to a local AA call a hotline or tell a friend or family member about your issue.

Photo Credit: https://www.inmaricopa.com/arizona-has-the-nations-strictest-dui-laws-heres-what-that-means-for-you/