under 21 drinking Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Underage Drinking

Daun Thompson — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:27:49 +0000

When I moved to Texas in 1979, everyone in the car could have an open container…even the driver. I thought you’d get a citation if you didn’t drink and drive. We’ve totally evolved since those glory days (or, as some of my friends call them, the R.I.P. days). Eventually, the law changed and only passengers could have an open container (or a road sodie, as they were called). This way, the driver could merely hand their beverage over to a passenger before the officer approached the car…brilliant. I’m sure the laws in the state that I moved here from were no better. In fact, most bars never closed. Which also means they didn’t clean up. You needed a tetanus shot before you’d go into one of those places. And, as far as underage drinking went, the legal age to drink went from 21 down to 18. Then it went up to 19 for awhile and kind of hovered there. Then it eventually went back up to 21. Somewhere in between, I recall the drinking age being around 8 (maybe that was south of the border). People from European countries say they don’t have an underage drinking problem because they don’t “glamorize” drinking like we do here in the states. And their laws are strict and swift. So, would lowering the drinking age make it less attractive to teens? MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) says not. When states had lower legal drinking ages in America, the underage drinking problem was worse. Underage drunk drivers were involved in over twice as many fatal accidents.
A few months ago, there was a rumor going around on the interweb (that’s what my dad calls it) that the drinking age was going to be raised to 25. It was apparently just a myth. Kind of like celebrity deaths on the internet. That has to be super creepy to the celebrities themselves. 25 years of age is apparently when the frontal lobe completely develops. Better, more rational, adult decision making comes into play after 25 (hopefully). But not everyone matures at the same pace as others.
According to MADD, more than 25,000 lives have been saved in the U.S. because of the 21 minimum legal drinking age. They claim that the law continues to prevent tragedies and therefore decreases crashes by an estimated 16% and keeps young people safer from many other risks as well (such as alcohol poisoning, and aspiration).
Even after 21, it is encouraged to take a cab or Uber if you have consumed any alcohol. In fact, MADD has teamed up with Uber to encourage this. Uber’s revolutionary app connects users with safe, reliable rides at the touch of a button. Those are rides you can count on, whenever and wherever, so that people never have to get behind the wheel drunk.
After all, the easier it is to get a safe ride, the less likely adults are to drive after drinking.
Until next week….
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Underage Drinking – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Drunk Drivers

Daun Thompson — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 13:33:00 +0000

Whether you’re Irish or just Irish for the day, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! You may have noticed more police patrolling our streets since last weekend. Police have been initiating special law enforcement efforts during Saint Patrick’s Day week to keep drunk drivers off the road. This special intensive effort will run through tonight, March 17. But, be extra alert tomorrow morning on your commute for drunk drivers still on the road. Most states have been enforcing zero tolerance during this festive week. You don’t want your “luck of the Irish” to run out. And a DWI or vehicular manslaughter conviction could result in some lengthy jail time. Where you could find yourself as your cell mate’s Mary O’Reilly. Why do you think they call them cell mates?

This effective nationwide drunk driving crackdown includes high-visibility enforcement, high-profile events, and has been supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign reduces drunk driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.

Here are a few tips to help keep you and others safe from harm and free of getting strapped with a permanent DWI conviction on your driving record.

Arrange a ride to and from your planned destination. A designated driver would be ideal.
Try to discourage friends from driving impaired. Offer them a lift if needed.

So, be safe this evening. And have a terrific Saint Patrick’s Day!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Drunk Drivers – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Consequences of Drinking and Driving

Daun Thompson — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 15:36:25 +0000

The rumor spread across the internet (or the innerweb, as my dad calls it) was apparently a hoax. Yes, it is only an urban legend that the drinking age, nationwide, in America is going to be raised to 25. Some say it’s not a bad idea and that, at the age of 21, a person is still not mature enough to handle the responsibility and consequences of drinking and driving. Minimum drinking ages in the U.S. are established on a state-by-state basis, not mandated across the nation by federal law, though if your state doesn’t have a minimum age limit of 21 the federal government will not allocate highway funds to that state… subsequently every state now has a minimum drinking age of 21.

It would be interesting, though, to see how it would play out. When I moved to Texas in 1979, the drinking age had been changed from 21 to 18. Eventually, it went up to 19 and stayed at that age for a short time and then went back up to 21. Somewhere in between, I’m sure the age was 8. Or, maybe that was in Mexico. I hear the drinking age there has gone up to 12. Just kidding, I know it’s 18. Also back in ’79, everyone in the car could have an open container, even the driver. I thought you’d get a ticket if you didn’t drink and drive. We’ve certainly evolved over the last 30 something years. So, when hearing this rumor, my first thought was that it’s all in the evolution process.

The consequences of underage drinking and driving will result in a DUI. This includes harsh fines, drivers license suspension and possibly adding an expensive car breathalyzer device. The driver will most likely have to attend drug/alcohol and driver’s education classes as well as to complete a month or more of community service. Another penalty is possible probation for up to four years.

Oh, and a surcharge for three years. That comes in the form of a bill which you will receive in the mail. So now everyone knows about your big mistake. Even your mailman, so don’t be surprised if he offers to be your AA sponsor.

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Consequences of Drinking and Driving – Comedy Defensive Driving

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DRIVING TIPS FOR TEEN DRIVERS

Lisa — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:20:18 +0000

Driving is a privilege, not a right. With this privilege comes responsibilities, obligations and potential consequences.If you or someone you know is a new driver, the following tips may prove invaluable when getting behind the wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for 15 to 20 year olds. This accounts for forty percent of all teen deaths.So, teaching your teen to be careful and safe when driving can make the difference in not only their self-preservation, but also that of others.

A good start, is knowing what the laws and restrictions are for teen drivers. According to the DPS, during the one year period following the issuance of a Class C provisional driver license to a person under 18 years of age, the person may not operate a motor vehicle

Between midnight and 5a.m.

With more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 years of age who is not a family member

While using a wireless communication device.

Another topic of discussion with your teen is the price of insurance. Insurance rates for teens are often double what adults over twenty five pay. Why? Because teens have an average of three accidents between 16 and 20. Some parents find that having their teens pay their own insurance will reduce recklessness and inattention. Distractions are one of the main causes of accidents for new drivers.

In addition to collisions, knowing the current seat belt law, school zone laws, school bus laws, and many other “typically” broken laws are very important to reinforce. Currently, the seat belt law in Texas requires that everyone in the car must wear a safety belt. If the person not wearing the safety belt is of age, they get their own ticket. If under age, the driver gets the ticket. I recently had a 16 year old student tell me that she got a ticket for speeding in front of her high school. The school zone lights were “active” and the ticket was very costly. In addition, her two 16 year old friends were not wearing their seat belts. She got both of the seat belt tickets. So she came home from school that day with a speeding in a school zone ticket and two no seat belt tickets. I don’t know what happened to her, but my parents would have killed me and started all over again. Wiped the slate clean and started a whole new, cheaper family. And she didn’t mention that she wasn’t supposed to have more than one friend in the car with her at a time. Another huge fine. Passing a school bus with it’s alternating flashing red lights is another very dangerous act with a huge fine attached. And knowing what to do on the opposite side of the street from the bus is important to stress, too. Coming to a complete stop at a stop sign or before taking a right at a red light is another. Counting 3 seconds to assure that the car has come to a complete stop is a good habit to get into. Changing lanes in an intersection and having a Hello Kitty bumper sticker are other good reasons for the cops to pull you over.

A few things I will be teaching my teen driver? To practice safe and courteous driving behavior. Perhaps, if she drove as if everyone around her had a small child in the car, maybe she wouldn’t pull any bone-headed moves. Like crossing 3 lanes across traffic to take her exit. And, perhaps if she drove as if everyone had a gun in the car (and in Texas, they do), maybe she’d be a little more courteous out there when she’s driving.

Until next week….be safe!

Daun Thompson

(Daun Thompson is a comedienne, writer and artist residing in Dallas, Texas)

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