DUI epidemic ought to convince us all: Time to crack down on drunken driving
It is with profound sadness that I write this Community Voices article. I am growing weary of reading headlines about another DUI death in Bakersfield. My heart aches for the Maxwell family.
Losing my wife, Jada, nearly six years ago to a drunk driver, I know the pain her husband is feeling. My daughters know the pain his daughters are feeling. We know the anger, the devastation, the loss, the hardship of carrying on that they will endure. Maxwell will be drying tears on his shoulders for years.
If he needs anything, my family will be here for him and his family.
I've given this a lot of thought over the last few years about what I could do to help change the selfish behavior of driving under the influence. I speak to teens and parents about the dangers and effects of DUIs at the Start Smart Program, which is run by the California Highway Patrol. I speak about the dangers on television, on the pages of The Californian and on Inga Barks' radio show every major holiday. And I'm sure it has some effect on some people. But until there is a major shift in the amount of "shame and punishment" for this horrific crime, it will continue as it is.
So, with the community's help, I feel it is time to turn up the heat on this behavior. I know it can be done. I've seen how smokers have been ostracized by society to the point where they huddle outside the workplace, feeling like second-class citizens, doing damage to their own bodies and very little to others around them.
Why don't we become active in highlighting the "shameful" behavior of getting behind the wheel and injuring or killing innocent people? It has been far too socially acceptable for too long and I, for one, have had enough.
After Michelle Maxwell's death this past week, I was surprised to read on some social networking sites that some people were still downplaying getting behind the wheel and "accidentally" killing someone as just happenstance. And that it was wrong place, wrong time -- that "most of us have a couple" and drive home.
I couldn't believe people thought this way. This kind of thinking is incredibly selfish and apparently more prevalent than I could have imagined. Well, since these folks won't take responsibility for their behavior, it is finally time to push for stiffer sentences for first-time offenders. So, at least the ones who weigh out the consequences may decide to call for a ride, and the ones who don't get a taste of what real punishment is -- not just a fine, jail time. And for repeat offenders, the punishment must be more severe, as these people have no concern for their fellow man and they continue to offend until the time they injure or kill someone.
I know I'm not the only person who feels this way. I am actively seeking solutions to this "epidemic" we have in this county. I implore our legislators, district attorneys, City Council members, county supervisors and citizens of Kern County to help curb this behavior.
I ask the police, who do a fine job with the DUI checkpoints, to re-think some of these operations. Rather than, or in addition to, having a checkpoint on California Avenue at 6 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, actively patrol bars and clubs. If I'm going fishing, I go where the fish are. If I want to keep drunks off the roads, I go where the drunks are!
Some will worry about "hurting" business. I worry about "hurting" families. So, now is the time! Let's take action and help prevent future tragedies. We can't prevent the senseless killings of the members of my family, the Maxwell family, the McCright family and scores of others in the past. But with an active, vigilant community, we can make a difference.
If you have any ideas, solutions or legislation that you need my help with, please contact me at www.NoMoreDUIs.com. Thank you, and God bless our community.
Michael Benge of Bakersfield is an account manager for a broadcast network.
