| According to the data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2005, 16,885 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, an average of one every half hour. These deaths constituted approximately 39 percent of the 43,443 total traffic fatalities. |
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| DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE KILLS PLEASE HELP US PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS |
| Every day we hear about people that have lost their lives in DUI accidents. My involvement in this fight came after I heard of a couple that were killed by a drunk driver in Tennessee. They were young and newly married. They had their whole lives ahead of them and then their lives were cut short by a man who was on probation and had numerous DUI convictions. This man had no business being behind the wheel of an automobile. But someone gave him every opportunity to correct past mistakes. In doing so they allowed an innocent couple to be murdered. This couple will never have the chance to live their life, they will never have the opportunity to make choices, good or bad. We need stiffer penalties. Mandatory sentences for first time offenders. Alot of people may think that is harsh. But can we afford not to create stiffer penalties? I realize that each case is different and consideration should be taken on a case by case basis. |