Drunks…. And Driving (scarlet Letter Essay) Essay, Research Paper

“People need to be aware that what happened to me can happen to you. I had never thought about impaired driving as an issue in my youth, it wasn’t a debate. Now I know. Life really is about choices.” This quote was from Tom Boyle who killed Brian Colgan in a drunk driving accident in 1995. Tom Boyle states that life is about choices. This brings up the issue with Massachusetts wanting to place a “scarlet letter” (mark of shame) on the licenses of convicted drunk drivers. Placing the “scarlet letter” on the licenses of convicted drunk drivers is a senseable consequence. Being a senseable consequence it brings up the old saying “if you do it once you are bound to do it again”, many statistics prove there are a great number of drunk drivers, and the “scarlet letter” will reduce the amount of drunk drivers on the road.

When I was a child I dropped a rock on my sisters head not knowing any better, but after being disiplined for doing this I decided to go back and do it again. This is accountable for most drunk drivers we have today; like stated above, “if you do it once you will do it again.” If someone is an alcoholic they are bound to keep drinking due to the fact it is a daily routine and they need medical help. Having the mark on the license will motivate the alcoholic to get help and give police and pedestrians warning of the individual. “Alcohol is the 2nd most addicting substance in the United States followed by marijuana”, posted Time Magazine June 2001 Issue. Being the 2nd most addicting substance, it is hard not to drink and drive.

Teenage Drunk Driving.com Statistics prove that on any given weekend evening, one in 10 drivers on America?s roads have been drinking. With this many people on the road drinking, it puts not just his/her life in danger, but puts our lives in danger as well. According to the latest drunkdrivers.com statistics, the prospect of you or someone in your family being involved in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident is more than just very likely, it is a virtual certainty. In fact, in a family of five, the chance that someone in the family will find themselves in an alcohol-related motor vehicle crash in their lifetime, is an astounding 200 percent. Imagine, a 200 percent chance that you or someone in your family will either cause, or be an innocent victim to, a drunk driving accident. Having the “scarlet letter” on the license will reduce the percentage fifty to a hundred percent.

Like in the Scarlet Letter, Hester Pryne was ashamed of the the Letter on her bosom. Having a mark on someones license will cause them to be ashamed and even humiliated like Hester Pryne. Convicted drivers will be too embarresed to buy alcohol thinking people will judge them on their past occurances. This mark will teach the accused not to make the same mistake again. It will also teach others to not make the same mistake as they did.

Having a mark on their license is a small price to pay for the agony they have caused. It would be a wise decision for Massachusetts to pass this law. Passing this law will help save numerous lives, maybe even your life one day. “I have learned everything from this letter upon my bosom,” stated Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter.