More Wisconsinites admit to drunk driving than in any other state. What can be done to stop this?

**Kris10** · 07-09-2008, 09:57 AM

According to a recent study, more than 26% of Wisconsin adults 18 and older told government researchers that they had driven under the influence in the previous year. What can be done to curb drunk driving in Wisconsin?

pk · 07-09-2008, 11:25 AM

I agree with almost all of the choices except maybe fining the bar owner. There are many times the person walks out of the bar and continues to drink in their car out of their own bottle. It's also difficult to prove I would think how much the person actually drank at the bar before they left. Did they really get totally drunk at the bar and walk out and cause an accident? Did they drink only a few and continue to drink while driving from something they bought earlier. Hard call.

To bad bar owners can't have some type of talley system for each customer as to how many drinks they serve them and each person can have a certain limit each hour they are there. I know...the bar owners would freak on this idea since they would lose money but if it would serve as a safety device and curb drunk drivers from being on the road it would be worth the loss of $$ for the owners.

**j10asen** · 07-09-2008, 01:34 PM

What can be done to curb drunk driving in Wisconsin?

a)Stronger penalties for first offenses

You can increase fines,make mandatory jail sentances,take away drivers licenses,have a breathalizer attached to the ignition but NOTHING will stop people who want to drive while intoxicated, as they say
"where there is a will there is away

b) Breathalizers in cars of convicted drunk drivers

They will get another car and drive intoxicated.

c)Penalties for bar owners that overserve alcohol

So you shut-down the bars or make business not worth running and the drunks will drink at home and drive intoxiczated to the store to buy more.

c.)Increased awareness of drunk driving effects

you can talk about it until you are blue in the face and they will think you are talking about someone else

d.)Free public transportation for inebriated citizens
are you going to pick-up these people from their home if they need a ride?

NOTHING will stop people who want to drive while intoxicated, as they say
"where there is a will there is away

e.)All of the above
Other - what do you think will help stop drunk driving?

two methods would work to lower drunk driving ofences

1.)shoot them on sight

2.) increase the blood alcohol limit to 10.00 yes 10.00 no one would fail unless they were dead!!!

There is no short term cure for this but longer term would be education starting at 1st grade and going until driving age then they must volunteer to hel clean-up after a few alcohol related accidents.

pk · 07-09-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

There is no short term cure for this but longer term would be education starting at 1st grade and going until driving age then they must volunteer to hel clean-up after a few alcohol related accidents.

Good point John. Education starting very early is good. Since education should start with the family at home by parents not drinking in the home, but that is impossible for many. So at least teach the children in school from the very beginning how dangerous drinking and driving is. And yes, when kids are old enough to take drivers education classes they should have to take part in seeing the results of being in an accident up close and personal.

**Kris10** · 07-11-2008, 09:08 AM

I agree with John that nothing can stop a drunk driver if they are determined to drive drunk... except for putting them in jail so they can't harm others. Yesterday Nancy Sellars, an extremely gifted athlete, was killed by a drink driver while riding her bike. She was only 48. If you were ever fortunate enough to meet Nancy and her husband Jimi (I did), you'd know two of the nicest, talented, most positive people in the world.

There is NO excuse for driving drunk. I think a first offense should warrant serious jail time even if the driver didn't cause an accident. People just aren't getting the severity and horrible losses drunk driving is causing.

**keith** · 07-13-2008, 11:05 PM

The timeliness of this poll is eerie, Kris10.

There were more than a few laptops in Jimi and Nancy's living room on Friday with slide shows running. Many of the photos of the recent 3,000 mile bike trip across the country had a Forest Gump feel to them.

Here are a few more links to news about Nancy Sellars, killed by an alleged drunk driver.

TriWisconsin Triathlon Club - Home

"She was one of the original TriWisconsin members and a stallworth in the triathlon community in SE Wisconsin. She most recently completed the Race Across America as part of an eight-person team, Badger Bikers, that raised nearly $70,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through their eight-day ride across the country. Over the years, she has completed four Ironman triathlons, five American Birkebeiner ski races and dozens of 100-mile bike rides."

911 Call After Driver Hits Bicyclists | Today's TMJ4 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin News, Weather, Sports, WTMJ | Local News

TH - Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin Article

JS Online: Well-known area cyclist killed after being hit by car

Jimi's MySpace page, with some great music of his: MySpace.com - Jimi Sellars - FRANKLIN, Wisconsin - Acoustic / Alternative / Folk Rock - www.myspace.com/jimisellars

From Jimi's blog (Myspace.com Blogs - My love is gone - Jimi Sellars MySpace Blog) July 10th:

My love is gone
Last night my wife was struck while riding her bike with a friend.
Only a month ago she rode as part of a team from Oceanside California to Annapolis Maryland. I rode in the van behind her to protect her from traffic.
I was not there yesterday.

Nancy was my reason for living. The inspiration to much of my writing.
After my accident in 2000 the music business job was her idea and she supported me in every way.

When she passed last night I had the comfort of having her Mom and Dad, sisters, brother inlaws, My sister and brother inlaw.
Also present where way to many special friends to mention.
I can't think of any better support than all those people.
I love and thank everyone of them.

_____________

God bless you and keep you, Nancy and Jimi.

Regards,
Keith

**keith** · 07-15-2008, 02:44 AM

Kris10 and I were at Nancy Sellars' funeral tonite.

Kris10 knocked out http://www.NancySellars.com today.

Regards,
Keith

GatewaytotheNorthwoods · 07-15-2008, 02:13 PM

I think some kind of public transportation would be worth a try. In some of these remote areas, that is about all there is to do for excitement. Going to bars to socialize with other people. As far as Wisconsin having the most drunk drivers, maybe Wisconsin has the most honest people? That will admit to drinking and driving. Anyone ever think of that?

**j10asen** · 07-15-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GatewaytotheNorthwoods

I think some kind of public transportation would be worth a try. In some of these remote areas, that is about all there is to do for excitement. Going to bars to socialize with other people. As far as Wisconsin having the most drunk drivers, maybe Wisconsin has the most honest people? That will admit to drinking and driving. Anyone ever think of that?

That sounds like a good idea but....
how do you handle roudy( or any other raucny activity that a drunk person may do)?
who cleans up after them?
who wants to ride with a drunk?
and when you let then off and they can't find their way home/pass out on the way/get sick on the way/ who cleans up or picks then up?

StriKKer · 07-25-2008, 07:11 PM

Unfortunately, no penalty will ever stop people from driving drunk. Take it from me. I've been there. At first (after you get caught) you think your life is over. Then you start to get over it, and you think, "That wasn't so bad. Besides, no one got hurt but my wallet, anyway!". It is at this point that you are doomed to repeat your mistake, most likely with much more dire consequences... Unless something slaps you in the face and wakes you up. For me, it was my son. One night, after I had driven home drunk, my wife handed my son to me, and made me look at him. She asked me to tell her how I would explain to him why, because of me, another little boy or girl has to grow up without a mommy or daddy. I was devistated. I never wanted to put someone through that... EVER! So, have I stopped drinking? No way! Will you ever see me behind the wheel after drinking? Again, the answer is "No way!". I agree with J10asen. Education!!! Start it young and don't stop!! Making the true, far-reaching consequences hit home before they decide to do it is the only way. I was lucky. Only my wallet suffered, but if it were not for my wife and son... Who knows if I would have wised up? Thank God I did! I don't tell this story because I am proud of it, or because I have to. I tell it as a warning to those whohave thought about driving drunk, and to those who have done it. Stop now, before it is too late!

pk · 07-26-2008, 12:53 AM

Quote:

So, have I stopped drinking? No way! Will you ever see me behind the wheel after drinking? Again, the answer is "No way!".

It certainly is great to read that you decided to quit driving while drinking. You may have saved a child from losing a parent like you mentioned...or you may have saved your son from losing his father.

But it's to bad you didn't take it one step further and just quit drinking all together. I'm not here to preach against drinking, but just a thought...like father, like son. Your son will see you drinking and maybe someday will be just like you, except maybe he won't have a good wife with a son to make him think about not driving drunk, and he may be the one that ends up making a child go without a parent.

But then maybe if you told him his whole life how you quit drinking, he may never start.

Just a thought.