The driver is safer when the roads are dry; the roads are safer when the driver is dry.

~Unknown

To begin, I would like say that those who decide to drive drunk are selfish people. Willingly putting people's lives in danger, as well as your own, to make it from point A to point B in an inebriated state is selfish. The people who get hurt because of your decision to drive drunk did not choose this. You took their lives, and your life, into your own hands the moment you sat behind that wheel.

When you drive drunk, there can be dire consequences. The minimum of these consequences constitutes getting pulled over and being ticketed for a DUI, in which case you're lucky. In the event that you drive drunk and end up hitting a car so hard that it ends up on its side after rolling into a ditch, you could end up taking the lives of innocent strangers. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), in 2013 alone 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-impaired car accidents, accounting for nearly one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. Are you willing to take the risk?

Having been in a car accident due to the incoherence of a drunk driver, I understand the toll that it takes on one’s life. I lost my beloved “Freedom Fries” (the name of my 2004 Nissan Xterra that I bought for myself in high school after saving up for years). I suffer from injuries to this day. I even lost my best friend over the severity of the impact that the car accident had on our friendship. One of my best friends that was in the car with me still remembers the blood-curdling scream that came from my mouth as I felt the car starting to roll post-impact. I despise drunk drivers and I wish that the law was a lot more strict on the punishment and consequences of those that attempt to drink and drive.

If you drink and drive, it's only a matter of time before you get caught or worse. You may think you have some control over yourself, but you're wrong. It's been proven that when drunk drivers get into accidents, they typically come out with minimal to no injuries because the alcohol allows the body to relax and disengages the brain telling the body to tense up when in a dangerous situation. This is the complete opposite of those who are sober and get into a car accident; the body tenses up and typically results in moderate to severe injuries. Driving drunk can, and will, lead to injuries. It can also lead to vehicular manslaughter.

In the event that a driver is underage and under the influence, or a driver of age is driving intoxicated above the legal limit, they will be held accountable for any car accidents that they cause. Unfortunately, there's a large portion of uninsured drunk drivers, and they typically have more than one DUI on their record. When this happens, the innocent victim in this terrible situation gets slammed with the bills that should rightfully be covered by the drunk driver. It is extremely unfair to the victim to have to alert their insurance company that an uninsured, drunk driver has totaled their car and they will be responsible for covering any and all expenses regarding this mess. It's a difficult process and it's a hard process, especially since these drunk drivers are typically low-life people who have no money to their name.

Fight them. Taking them to court is the only way you will see justice for their wrongdoings, and hopefully get reimbursed for the emotional and physical pain, and suffering that they caused you. The emotional toll that this kind of accident can have on someone is immense; you could only understand if you've ever been in the same situation. Drunk drivers usually attempt to get the DUI charge dismissed from their license record. Do not let that happen. There will be a court case against the driver and you must testify against them. Allowing drivers to remain licensed who think that driving drunk is acceptable means that you have failed the person who will get hurt by them the next time they drink and drive, which is inevitable.

After getting into any kind of car accident, you may feel scared to get back behind the wheel. This is completely normal! This may bring a sensation of sadness for a couple of days but it will pass. Getting back behind the wheel, whenever you feel ready, will allow you to be significantly more cautious than you were previously. The effects of the car accident will be with you for awhile, but eventually you will learn to forgive (not necessarily forget).

The lesson here is don't drink and drive. The repercussions of such a decision can last a lifetime. Be responsible, drive sober, and above all, be safe!