Research Paper

Thesis: Although we cannot completely eliminate this frustrating and often fatal issue, people should not drive anytime under the influence of alcohol, and drivers on the road must take precautions to avoid any possible incident involving drunk drivers; steps must be taken to lower the amount of drunk drivers on the roads.


Rough outline: 


1st blog-- BAC: What it actually means.  

• What BAC stands for 
• Worldwide, BAC driving limit IS the same (0.08 %)
• How this limit actually applies to peoples' coordination and depth perception 
• Anyone not of age & driving--> the immediate consequences 
• How peoples' BAC can vary from one to another based on height & weight
• Quote: "Being there is a legal driving limit for adult users, does not mean by any reason a person who has been consuming alcohol should just assume their 'OK' to drive, because it is likely they are not." 

2nd blog-- M.A.D.D.

• What MADD is 
• Who makes it up
• What they support
• ......?

3rd blog--Whiskey Plates: are they worth it?

• Haynes says these plates serve a "sketchy" purpose
• How they differ from a regular licence plate 
• What is their main purpose ?
• False accusation from drivers whom did not commit the crime?
• Have been past discussions on whether they are effective or not.

4th blog-- Drunk Driving crashes 

• Number of accidents caused by drunk drivers in the US yearly
• Child statistics
• What alcohol does to body & its effects on driving
• Many put themselves at risk every year
• Quote: "Although you may not drink, you may come into contact with someone who has been or is drinking." <-- TRUE!

Research thesis

Although we cannot completely eliminate this frustrating and often fatal issue, people should not drive anytime under the influence of alcohol, and drivers on the road must take precautions to avoid any possible incident involving drunk drivers;  steps must be taken to lower the amount of drunk drivers on the roads.

I know it sounds sketchy, and it's sort of on the lines of the paper I am basing my research paper on, but please give me your feedback!! Thanks!

Drunk Driving Crashes

"Drunk Driving Crashes and You." Alcohol Alert!. AlcoholAlert.com, 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2011.

http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-crashes.html

In the United States alone, over 16,000 car accidents yearly are caused by drunk drivers.  And over 1 million drivers are arrested each year for drinking and driving.  In the years of 1997-2002, more than 2/3 of child passengers were killed by a drunken driver, age 14 and younger.  

Years ago, society believed social drinking and driving was tolerable, but definitely not anymore.  Even the slightest amount of alcohol can cause large impacts on one's bodily functions, like loss of coordination, visual perception, and poor judgement.  

Even though millions of people own a vehicle, they are putting their selves in for risk of being in an alcohol-related accident.  Although you may not drink, you may come into contact with someone who has been or is drinking.   

Whiskey Plates, are they worth it?

"DUI License Plates." Alcohol Alert!. Intervention of Point, 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2011.

http://www.alcoholalert.com/dui-license-plates.html

According to Ray Haynes, the use of DUI license plates in California may serve a sketchy purpose.  He claims the plates are given to drivers who have in the past committed a crime of drinking and driving.  These plates appear different from normal state plates and allow other drivers to be more alert that the specific vehicle with the plates have been caught.  DUI license plates also point out to other cars to be aware of the driver.  He tells how they serve a purpose for the better, but what about for others who drive that specific vehicle?  He claims anyone other than the criminal driving that car could be shunned for a crime that they did not cause.  Is this right, or not?  There have also been debates whether these plates even work.  From past experience, Ohio claimed the plates did not work for their particular state, for the plates served as not even a consequence.  The use for these is still being debated. 

M.A.D.D : Mothers Against Drunk Driving

"M.A.D.D." TSR Injury Law. Ed. Steve Terry. Minnesota Personal Law, 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.

http://www.tsrinjurylaw.com/madd-minnesota-sponsor

M.A.D.D. is a non-profit organization of mothers promoting to stop drinking and driving, support victims of this crime, and prevent underage drinking.  Many M.A.D.D. organizations are hosted by high schools around the nation.  This organization is made up of victims, families, and citizens who volunteer their time to send out the message to reduce crashes, injuries, deaths, and families who have been torn apart by this terrible decision.  They provide support to victims, help them understand the legal process, provide information about this, and provide training to stop drunken drivers. Many people throughout the nation volunteer for this important group, just to send out the positive message of not to drink and drive, and stop underage drinking.  

BAC: What it actually means.

"Blood Alcohol Content." Drinking and Driving. Org. U.S. Department of Transportation, 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.

http://www.drinkinganddriving.org/Articles/blood-alcohol-content.html

According to a post on Drinking and Driving. Org, the amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream, while consuming alcohol, is commonly known as their blood alcohol content, also known as BAC.  No matter where in the world, the alcohol detected in a persons blood is the same worldwide; the percent remains the same. The BAC limit for legal driving is .08% in all the 50 states.  The reason why our federal system chose this number is because when a person reaches .08 BAC, their coordination is incredibly affected.  Even at .05 BAC a person's reactions tend to be much slower!  Although the .08 BAC is the legal driving limit for users of 21 and older, if anyone younger gets caught with any alcohol in their blood, it results in an arrest.  Anyone under 21 is an automatic minor while driving. These minors have a Zero-Tolerance rule and it is nation-wide.    However, not every adult is affected with alcohol the same; depends on a person's size and weight.  Being there is a legal driving limit for adult users, does not mean by any reason a person who has been consuming alcohol should just assume their 'OK' to drive, because it is likely they are not.  

Reflection of Past Blogs

After posting six blog entries in the past, I found it that some posts struck my eye more than others.  From the posts, I have found what topic I will be writing my large research paper on; drinking and driving.  I chose to stick with the same topic as our very first paper.  I did this for reasons being it has a huge impact on everyone's life and everyday in society.  I also chose drinking and driving for that specific topic because I would enjoy further researching about the effects and statistics it has brought up in the past.  I personally or my family have not had this experience, but I know others in our community have and it catches my eye on how to keep our roads and society safe.  Some of my other blogs such as "Cyber-bullying" did not seem worthy of writing my argumentative paper on, not because it is not important (because it is), but because it has never happened to myself, therefore I thought it may be a topic to research for one's own enjoyment, not a paper.  And another blog , "Name Brand Clothes: Are They Worth It," seemed to not be nearly as important as any other topic I have written about.  That being said, after posting numerous blogs, I have found myself wanting to chose the topic, "Religion in the Classrooms" as my argumentative paper.  I have strong feelings towards that topic and some may find it a very touchy subject.  After the posting of blogs and commenting, I have found writing these actually helped me in choosing a topic and by other student's commenting gives me a view of someone else's point of view.