DUI and Death

There are two stories I have just heard on the news that have made me so angry.  I will make another posting on the other story in a little while. 

One of the stories about the death of a 27 year old mother and her two young children.  Amanda Jahn and her two children were driving home last night in Grundy county in Illinois when another driver blew through a stop sign and hit their  car.  The driver of the other car was drunk. 

The mother was trapped in the car and died instantly, the 2 children were ejected from their seats and were pronounced dead at the hospital.

The driver of the other car a woman is in the hospital and is expected to be fine.

This makes me so angry, because this woman killed this mother and her two young children because she took it upon herself to get behind the wheel and drive when she had no business driving.  You would think that people would realize by now that if you get behind the wheel after you have been drinking the likelyhood that you are going to get in to an accident is very high, and the likely hood that you are going to kill someone or yourself is also very high.  However, it seems that the person driving under the influence and causing the accident is usually the one that is fine.  How sad is that?

This story hits a little to close to home for me as a few years ago my pregnant sister in law was killed instantly by a driver who was alegedly (I have to say that) under the influence, when he crashed in to her car head on while crossing a medium at 90 miles per hour.  She and the baby were killed instantly.  The guy who hit her had a little boo boo on his foot, but was otherwise fine.  So when I hear stories like this it makes me really angry.

I will just offer a little advice for those who know they will be out drinking.  Before the drinking begins elect a designated driver who will not drink or make arrangements to be picked up by someone or plan to take a taxi home. 

If you see that a friend is drunk and planning to drive, take their keys.  They will be angry with you that night, but will likely thank you in the morning.  Drive them home yourself if you have to or if you are hosting the party have them spend the night.  If you are having a party where drinking is involved let your guests know you will be collecting keys at the door and only those who seem able to drive be given their keys at the end of the night.  Tell guests to bring pillows and blankets or have them available, and tell them anyone who is too drunk to drive will be spending the night.

Have extra breakfast foods, and lots of orange juice on hand for the following morning.

Please don't drive drunk.  Don't let your friends drive drunk.  Don't let your party guests drive drunk, bartenders don't let your customers drive drunk.  Don't take drugs, and if you do don't drive while under the influence of them. 

There are innocent people out there on the roads and they don't deserve to be killed by people who drink too much. or those who take drugs.