Yesterday I did a piece on the latest drunk driving support memo from Sarah Longwell of the American Beverage Institute. In this article she basically tries to minimize the damage caused by intoxicated drivers by saying that alcohol-related statistics are grossly exaggerated by activist groups.
The number of deaths that activist groups attribute to drunk driving is grossly exaggerated. Last year, federal statisticians classified almost 18,000 deaths as "alcohol-related." However, alcohol-related does not mean alcohol-caused. In fact, that figure includes anyone killed in a crash in which at least one person (driver, pedestrian, cyclist, etc.) was estimated to have had any trace of alcohol. ~ Tampa Tribune
Unfortunately it is Mrs. Longwell who is misrepresenting the statistics here, the average BAC of fatally injured drunken drivers is .16, that’s twice the legal limit. Just for the record, almost 80% of all alcohol-related traffic fatalities are caused by someone who is legally drunk. It has been my (considerable and relevant) experience that alcohol related accidents are actually underreported if anything. While on the topic I figured I would share just the latest exaggerated instance of an alcohol-related traffic death.
Click “Read more” to continue…
Actually I mean exaggerated as in how a drunk can yell a whisper, you know, an abnormally strong example.
Jennifer A. Gehringer told South Whitehall Township police she didn't see the man walking on the road in time to avoid hitting him. It was dark, after 2 a.m., and he was wearing a black T-shirt, jeans and dark shoes. She was driving drunk, and Parkland High School gym teacher John S. Toggas was also drunk as he started to cross the Lincoln Avenue jug handle off Hamilton Boulevard near Dorney Park, according to Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin.~ MorningCall
That’s right; a drunk driver with a .15 BAC ran over and killed another drunk driver .14 BAC that had refused a ride home after his wife bailed him out of jail. Unfortunately these kinds of stories are a daily occurrence in the news. For more, all you have to do is scroll down the page of my site to see the story of the lady (BAC .243) who ran over and killed her own mother.
Grossly exaggerated my foot!
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TDA,
A keystone of our society is the fair and balanced media. Printing a story that is written with a moral slant can be construed as slander.
The next issue is guilt. We have a situation where a person is involved in a fatal car accident. Police allege driving while intoxicated. What happens if the results of the test are invalid?? Add to that sensational journalism. Now you've got a lawsuit on your hands! Putting the OP/ED columnist to work writing copy for the front page story can get you sued.
I've known a few newspaper people over the years. My take is that they feel that they are the moral conscience of their circulation.
I'm not disputing the facts, merely raising the practical risks.
with statements made by the county DA and police authority leading me to believe most aspects of this case are now closed.
This is an article about a case that has been thoroughly investigated by police and the circumstances demonstrated. So, libel is not at issue here.
TDA,
The issue is what happens when the technology that the law enforcement depend on makes a flub. It doesn't have to be wrong, just inadmissable in a court of law. Say the newspaper went on a slanderous rampage. The innocent is now aggrieved. Lawsuit time!
Cops have been known to be wrong. Machines have been known to err.
I have occasion to work with police. You haven't lived until you listen to one gleefully bragging about breaking someone's balls illegally.
Newspapers have to handle this type of stuff with kid gloves. They have been burned before. Your point is their disclaimer. Police say..... I.E. We're not making any accusations, just reporting the facts!!
Gotta go play with the Lionels!
I have always been fascinated by the elaborate environments that enthusiasts create.
TDA,
Playing with the real steel is what I do. You ought to see some of the crazy stuff I've seen while running trains through the ghetto.
Diorama's are really cool. A few of my co-workers indulge in that particular insanity. Nothing like being able to look at a scene for thirty minutes admiring the detail.
You'd be surprised who are railfans. One of the guys I know from years ago was (is) a newspaper editor.
People outside my world view are vital to talk to. Without them, myopia takes over.
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