The problem in cases like this is that suspending someone’s licence or barring them from driving is not really much of a deterrent. There have been threads on this issue recently on the Boards, and some people have provided statistics showing that a majority of people whose licences get revoked or suspended continue to drive anyway, knowing that they are relatively unlikely to be caught.
Personally, i think that we as a society need to take driving offences more seriously, and to begin looking at driving more as a privilege rather than a right. In many cases where people convicted of drunk or dangerous driving are allowed back on the road in a fairly short space of time, it’s not even the fault of the courts, because in many states the maximum penalties for such offences are relatively light, and the judge cannot exceed the maximum. This is something that lawmkaes also need to be convinced about. Of course, if this lawmaker is any guide, it might be a long battle.
Driving age should be raised to 18. Initially there should be a 1 year probation period (minimum). Tests should be more difficult, both written and competency. And use of cell phones, eating while driving, applying make-up, watching tv or a movie and other distractions should carry same weight as drunken driving as they cause as much or more impairment. IMO.
It may be YMO, but it’s still wrong. Drunken driving remains, by a very, very wide margin, the #1 cause of serious accidents and traffic fatalities. No other cause is even close.
Shee-yett, beagledave dose wankers ain’t shee-yet compared to our home grown habitual offenders like this spunk monkey and his mama. This guy can say he’s directly responsible for some serious kick-ass DUI legislation in this state in the last couple of months.
Driving really does need to be more of a right than a privlidge. In the U.S. there’s almost nothing you need to do, and therefore less of a respect for what has to be done to regain the ability to drive (which really isn’t much anyway, considering places like the Czech Republic have a one strike you’re out DWI policy)
And the tests really should be tougher. I didn’t have to prove I could drive a friggin’ tricycle before I could legally zip around highways at 65 mph (with a permit and a licensed driver in the passenger seat, of course). I was fine and didn’t cause any accidents, but there are a lot of people out there who can (and do).
