76-17-A6
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Drunk Driving[edit]
Transcript[edit]Last year, 46,000 Americans were killed in highway accidents. That's about equal to the population of Rock Island, Illinois or Longview, Texas. And, according to studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol is involved in half of all the fatal crashes that occur. That's a sobering set of statistics, but the studies also show that the drunk drivers don't stay sober for long. Nearly two-thirds of the alcohol- related highway deaths involve problem drinkers. As law enforcement agencies crack down more on drunk drivers, they find they are pulling in a large number of repeat offenders. Approximately 400,000 Americans are arrested for drunk driving every year, and an estimated 40 percent are repeat offenders. Most scientific evidence today points to the conclusion that alcoholism is a disease and, by it's very nature, it almost insures a pattern of repeat drunk driving. What's to be done about it? Lock up the drunk driver and throw away the key? Or, take away his driver's license? Many experts believe these actions only attack the symptoms and don't really solve the problem. In fact, a study by the California Department of Motor Vehicles a few years ago showed that among those whose licenses had been revoked, 68 percent continued to drive. A growing number of specialists in the study of alcoholism are arguing persuasively -- for adoption of a relatively new technique in combating drunk driving. It's called the diversion program. Much of the pioneering in diversion programs has taken place in Southern California, with its auto-oriented society. There, 37 programs have begun over the last two years. How do they work? Take one called High Gain, in Santa Monica. Its Executive Director, Gaylord Long, says that it and the other diversion programs start from the belief that -- QUOTE -- "Something on the order of half those arrested twice for drunk driving are alcoholics or near-alcoholics, but can't admit it to themselves. Alcoholism can't be cured, but it can be stopped in its tracks, if we can get to the person in time." -- UNQUOTE. The judge, before sentencing the offender, assigns him to a screening interview with High Gain. If he's accepted and signs up voluntarily , he attends 10 weekly in-depth lectures on all aspects of alcohol and alcoholism. These are followed by a lecture every other week for nearly a year. Each session is followed by a group "rap" session in which members tell how alcohol has affected their lives and how their attitudes and behavior are changing as they understand their situation better. A basic rule of such diversion programs is that the "client" (as participants are called) stays sober -- that is, no drinking -- while in the program. Diversion program results are encouraging so far. Of the nearly 8,000 offenders in or finished with programs such as High Gain, only 13 percent have been rearrested. That compares with a 35 to 50 percent rearrest rate predicted for drunk _drivers who would not be sent to diversion programs in a Los Angeles Police department study two years ago. Oh yes, the taxpayers get a break, too. The clients themselves pay for the diversion programs. And, the staff members, in addition to their professional training, have an intimate understanding of alcohol and what it can do. Every one of them is a recovered alcoholic. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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