Another Wisconsin Chart Topper: Drunk Drivers

The story is no surprise to those of us who have experience in dealing with the problems of Wisconsin drunks - drivers or not.

Wisconsin, Upper Midwest, Leads U.S.in Drunk Drivers

Wisconsin leads the way. The federal government estimates more than a quarter of the state’s adult drivers had driven under the influence. Rounding out the worst five are North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The most important point of the story is:

Eric Goplerud, research professor at George Washington University Medical Center, said cultural and demographic issues probably have a role in the higher rates of driving under the influence in certain states.

During the fourteen years I served as mayor it was evident that our state's culture was a significant contributor to the problem, especially among young people. I recall a sexual assault witnessed by a dozen students. There was no prosecution since the dozen witnesses and the victim were too drunk to account for the events.  Or the police raid on a party where two very attractive coeds, miles from their dorm, were too drunk to find their way home.  (And they were not very attractive under the circumstances.)  The only question was whether the young men who had plied them with liquor or the women were better candidates for the detox unit.

The right of passage to adulthood is paved with excessive alcohol consumption at an early age. The cultural mores erroneously convey to teenagers that it is admirable to consume large quantities of alcohol, and that there is a correlation between sexual virility, prowess, and performance and acting stupid while under the influence.

We can continue to pass legislation protecting all of us from drunk drivers and enforce that legislation.  Real change will come, however, when we change the culture: high school parties, football games, and Saturday nights too drunk to have a good time in bed.

Comments

[michael donnelly]

You really nail it that this is a cultural problem. Laws are important too, but if there isn't a social stigma against driving when you've been drinking, people are going to keep doing it.

[Jay]

I'm not entirely sure how you are able to equate Wisconsin's high drunk driving rate with sexual assaults and other alcohol-related shenanigans here on campus, but suffice to say that I disagree with your synopsis of the underlying problem that causes people in this state to drink and drive. 90% of all DWI arrests in this state are over 21. WISDOT has identified the "typical" DWI offender as a 38 year old male. 48% of people with 1 DWI conviction were between the ages of 25 and 39. 10% were under 21. I think the problem is the history of lax attitudes concerning drinking and driving that Wisconsin has had over the years. I think that attitude is changing, especially here in Dane county,(the sexual assaults and other alcohol-charged B.S. that occurs on campus is a completely different issue.) I, like you, am a Chicago native. When I moved here 7 years ago, I was blown away by the amount of drinking that went on here. And not just on campus. Wisconsin is a very "drink-y" state and blaming the kids on this one does the problem no justice.

[Mitch]

It's interesting that you don't express the same vitriol toward drunk drivers that you did toward
people who dare to operate bicycles (or slow mopeds) on snowy roads.

[danieljames]

Thanks for nice post Drunk Drivers.
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danieljames
california dui