Where is the uproar?
 

Today's Daily Sun printed a small article on page C-4 regarding the death of a 61 year old Homosassa woman, killed by a person who was speeding, driving under the influence, and driving with a suspended license.

Where is the uproar?

The 24 year old was clocked driving 92 mph on Interstate 75. A Florida Highway Patrol officer gave chase. The driver, a 23 year old Plant City man, exited abruptly at SR 44. He failed to stop at a red light at the end of the exit ramp and smashed into the woman's car, where she died at the scene.

Where is the uproar?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Every day, almost 29 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired vehicle crashes—that's one person every 50 minutes in 2016"

Where is the uproar?

On an almost daily basis, there are news reports in the Daily Sun or on line at that other news website that can't be mentioned, of arrests for DUI, driving on suspended licenses, etc. This includes driving golf carts here in The Villages.

Where is the uproar?

A driver's license is not a RIGHT it is a PRIVILEGE. Consuming alcohol is not a RIGHT, it is a CHOICE.

Where is the uproar?

How can people under the influence, or on suspended licenses, or even those without licenses, continue to be able to drive a vehicle? Why is there no national call to require car manufacturers to implement safety controls that prohibit any one that is not properly trained (no, mom and dad teaching their kids to drive doesn't count as driving instructors-the training should be done by licensed certified trainers) and carrying a valid license? Off the top suggestions are fingerprint readers tied into a national police database that can validate that the user is legally licensed to drive the car and of course, breathalyzers that must be used by EVERYONE when they put a key in the ignition and if they fail, it locks out the car and potentially even alert local law enforcement. Why do some states allow 16 year old children to drive? Perhaps the minimum driving age should be raised to 21, or 25. Why do we allow children to own and drive what is in essence a weapon if it is not handled safely and responsibly?

Where is the uproar?

Why do distilleries and other vendors of alcohol continue to get a pass? Why was there an article in yesterdays Daily Sun about a 17 year old detained by the police for having and consuming a beer? Why is there not a requirement that all alcohol in the home be kept locked up in a safe where children and abusers can't get to it? Why is there not a fingerprint check requirement tied to a national police database so that liquor stores can determine if the purchaser has been convicted of any alcohol related crimes?

Where is the uproar?

Where are the news pundits, the screen actors guild, the legislators, THE PEOPLE, who should be out protesting the daily death toll? Driving and alcohol consumption are privileges and choices, why aren't they being regulated?

Oh, that's right. These tragedies are "one offs". Twenty nine deaths on a daily basis are across the country. I guess this doesn't provide enough sensationalism for many of the above to sustain a protest. I wonder, do they think that the grief felt by the loved ones left behind by these "one offs" is any less traumatic?

Where is the uproar?

An uproar has to start with someone, go for it!

Your post is excellent and I agree with it wholeheartedly. Unfortunately it's another case of NOBODY CARES ENOUGH, unless it affects one personally, you really don't care.

There are numerous ignition locking devices in existence, but somehow or other they never get to be law in motor vehicles. Politicians are not going to run on that. Lobbyists for the distilleries are not going to go along with it. I don't even see the police making a big deal about it! - What's one more avoidable road death? The only people impacted by this poor woman's untimely death are her husband and her family .............. and the drunk driver gets to do it again.

There is MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). There is the uproar!

There are state laws that prohibit drunk driving with criminal penalties for persons who are caught, including vehicular homicide.
There is the uproar!

There is RADD (Recording Artists, Actors, and Athletes Against Drunk Driving) which has done public service announcements by such persons as John Mayer, Barry Bonds, Paul McCartney, Shaquille O’Neal, Warren G, Tim McGraw, Marc Anthony and Gwen Stefani, and does free concerts to raise money for the cause.
There is the uproar!

I'm with you, friend! There are many of us who have lost someone because of drunk driving, either to death, injury, or prison. We cause uproar with our actions and our money.

My sister-in-law and her daughter were killed last Christmas Day by a drunk driver on I-75. The drunk driver of course was not injured. They never are. The Drunk had numerous DWI convictions. So the system does NOT keep drunks (after being caught) off the road (until they kill somebody.)

Also , I-75 is really a "death" highway. I now notice deaths on that highway just about every day.

I am outraged that DUI/DWI brings such little punishment until they kill somebody and that I-75 can't be made safer will a patrol car every few miles and lots of guard rails. Avoid I-75 at Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The uproar starts at home. My daughter was taught that a car was the most lethal weapon she would ever own and to treat it accordingly. My grandson, now 8-1/2, is being taught the same thing. A licensed driving instructor is not enough. Every driver should take at least one defensive driving class, preferably at a racetrack.

If we all treated a car as a deadly weapon, accidents would be far fewer in number. If drunk drivers were treated and convicted as felons, accidents would be reduced. If there was more of a police presence on public roadways, there would be less speeders and, thus, less accidents. If only there weren’t so many ifs....

The uproar is out there. It is just ignored by drivers, police, judges, legislators.

I miss reading your posts. :wave:

More people, more cars and trucks, and busier highways mean more accidents. Add to that more irresponsible people and cheap alcohol (also drugs) and you have a serious situation. There are few, if any, answers. In recent years we put a heavy tax on tobacco and with part of the money have advertised the problems of tobacco. We now have fewer smokers. Perhaps making it more expensive to consume too much alcohol could help.....(opening the door for naysayers now) “Government is not charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world”. Abraham Lincoln 1859. The lack of personal responsibility didn’t start recently.

That bears repeating, so I will.

The lack of personal responsibility didn't start recently.

The major impediment to getting anything done/changed/enforced/etc is a function of the silent majority that predictably remains silent/do nothing/not in my back yard/or involved personally.

The reason special interest, minority and lobby groups are so successful....their FEW do in fact do something and are recognized.

Until the silent majority is affected there will be no difference going forward.

UNFORTUNATELY!!

I appreciate your post, but would have to respectfully disagree.

I have been checking the news today, and I haven't heard/seen any uproar over this tragedy. MADD hasn't come out to condemn the perpetrator of this crime, or to espouse car/alcohol control. I haven't seen one discussion panel generated to discuss this tragedy or to lobby for change on the various news show. Why are the various talk show hosts, or members of the Screen Actors Guild who seem to have much more influence on people's opinions, not coming out today to talk about this tragedy or even one in their own state? So I ask again, where is the uproar?

Good post, and I agree 100% with you, but if the message is ignored, how is it an uproar?

100% agree that there is a lack of personal responsibility and wish to re-emphasis the quote by Abraham Lincoln regarding the government.

I am sorry for your loss.

Not sure what uproar you are looking for. You can't force personal responsibility, most of us are in favor of what you are asking until someone reminds us that we need to pay for it, more police, clogged court rooms filled with lawsuits, infringement on individual rights. An uproar accomplishes nothing without action and acceptance of the individual costs, forced personal responsibility. How do we do that?