51 billion dollars and rising! Sounds like a company a wise investor should invest in. After all, having a piece of a $ 51 billion industry is an exciting prospect, filled with anticipation for the future right? Not this time. This industry takes away all hope for the future. Any promise of potential greatness is dashed to the ground, becoming ashes and dust when people continue to invest in this business.
The notices were issued during the years of advising people to avoid investing in this sector worldwide. People still chose to buy the stock - some one share at a time, others in large quantities. Whenever you invest a single dollar in this society, you do not participate in destroying their own lives as well as the dreams and aspirations of others. Family and friends still have the role of unwitting participants.
The government has taken a position, as well as various groups in the world, making it harder for people to invest in this company. People still chose to ignore the signs that will lead to their own death. They continue their dangerous path of destruction. Why? Why do well educated human beings choose a path that is known to cause anguish and despair, to be part of the 51 billion dollar industry?
This business is not elusive enough of our hard earned money? As well as our personal blood, sweat and tears? I'm sure you're probably asking yourself "What industry can possibly be writing?" Perhaps you would like to know if you somehow missed the hundreds of alerts that are issued every year about this industry. Well here's the answer: Have you ever got behind the wheel of a vehicle with any alcohol, even one drink in your system? If you have, then you've invested in the club of 51 billion dollars.
It is estimated that every year 51 billion dollars are spent on alcohol related incidents. During 2003 (NHTSA 2004a), 17,013 deaths occurred in the U.S. alone due to alcohol impaired drivers. 2,136 of those deaths were children under 14 years. These investors have killed the future. This represents almost half of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S.
Most of those killed were innocent bystanders, not the impaired driver. It is, after all, what it is ... murder. Vehicular manslaughter. Vehicular Homicide. You can put whatever name you want in this criminal action to help lesson the burden of blame, but the fact is that knowingly got behind the wheel of what turned out to be a killing machine and killed.
Although the judicial system defines it as such, such actions can also be compared to the Degree Murder. Just look at the definitions for a moment. Taken directly from lawforkids.org, first-degree murder is defined as "killing another person or with intent or knowledge that the conduct will cause death and with premeditation. Premeditation is often described as 'malice aforethought' This basically means you probably considered the consequence of his conduct for at least a second before you committed the act. "
With all the education available, those who drink and drive know the possible consequences of their actions before they get into their vehicle to drive. Yet, even turns on the engine, gearbox in first gear and go.
Why do we allow the death toll of this activity to continue? Several years ago they used the excuse "There but for the grace of God, go" to turn a blind eye to the problem. That's about the time I discovered that the second member of my family, my sister was killed in an alcohol-related accident. (The jurors were in line with the driver of the vehicle, thinking back to times when he got behind the wheel of their car after having a "drink or two.") Pilots in all these cases, dropped with a warning or a light sentence .
Since then I lost another 5 members of my family and friends of these murderers. Lest you think that these are mere statistics are quoting for you, I want to give names to my data: Rosie (my cousin, 28 and a mother of a baby in the car at that time), Janet (my sister, "twin" and best friend 22), Marsha (my cousin, 25 and the mother of a fifth year old car at the time) and Lisa (my counselee, 12) as the mother (36) and his brother Jonathan (8). What's more, a weekend is the count of my family is gone again.
Natasha, 16, was on his way to his ball in the winter. A drunk driver crashed into the side of his vehicle, instantly killing her and turning her boyfriend into a quadriplegic. Thanks to another driver who has chosen to join the Billion Dollar Club 51. This driver has had his sentencing hearing yet.
How can we stop the carnage? Security forces stepped up its efforts to reduce DWI, the creation of sobriety checks and adding stiffer penalties for both drivers had been drinking and establishments in criminal and civil cases have flooded the courts. Education has been tripled and pamphlets are sent with our annual registration.
There are agencies that offer free rides to any driver who calls them in need of transportation after drinking. There is a chance to sleep in your car, spending 55 cents on a phone call, if you do not have a phone handy, or paying $ 69.00 at Motel, where if all else fails. Yet this is obviously still not enough to divert some people to get behind the wheel and take the life of another innocent victim.
So what's the answer? Actually, I do not know. But I know what will help. Heart broken by a member of these senseless tragedies, I'm going to do what I can to get more tax to all vehicles that need to have ignition interlock systems installed on them.
Interlock systems are currently used for repeat offenders in many states throughout the United States, but we need a change from light punishments and warnings in prevention. I believe that installing these units on all new vehicles sold and need to be installed on any vehicle used in the U.S. (a check could be made during smog inspections to see that the law was obeyed) Would save taxpayers court costs and billions insurance companies of dollars every year. More importantly, it would save family and friends the devastating loss of another innocent victim and another trip to the morgue to identify their loved one.
For those of us who do not drink and drive, will be a minor annoyance. For those who do drink and drive, they will fight any measures that their lifestyle inconvenience irresponsible and potentially deadly. Think a little 'back to the question of safety belts. Many opposed the seat belt law came into effect.
But we were forced to wear our seat belts? Since most people did not do so voluntarily, and the number of accidental deaths and near fatal injuries that could have been avoided was so shocking that the government decided to intervene and intervene on our behalf. The deaths and injuries were senseless. The same applies here. Drinking and driving is a senseless and often times unfairly punished crime.
You do not want to join me in this fight? Do not let the next phone call you get from the hospital late at night will tell a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving accident. Do not let the knock on the door at 3 am to be a police officer that indicates a loved one has just been killed in an alcohol-related death. What price would you be willing to pay for your son or daughter, brother or sister, mother or father? Forever is a long time. Are you willing to pay the price for the company 51 billion dollars? Think of ignition interlock systems and contact your state officials - put the pressure on them. Let them know that will not stay for the rules of the Billion Dollar Club 51 more.
Read more about what an ignition interlock system is and how it works, please visit: http://www.acs-corp.com/interloc.htm
To contact the local government to find out what you can do to help, visit: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Jaci Rae - The Rae of Hope TM "Copyright 2006
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