This disturbs how the brain functions normally, “When alcohol is consumed, many of the skills that safe driving requires – such as judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual acuity, and reaction time – become impaired” ("Driving While Impaired -- Alcohol and Drugs”). Alcohol disturbs a person who is drunk, causing malfunctions that interrupt the way the brain normally works ("Driving While Impaired -- Alcohol and Drugs). Loss of concentration is a factor that accompanies alcohol consumption. When driving, concentration is key to ensure safety for not only the driver but others on the road. This is due to the fact that a person is put in the position where they have to watch the road, and watch out for other drivers as well. Since this process is hard enough for someone who is sober, it is made extremely hard and dangerous for those who are drunk and driving. Their reaction time and concentration is so reduced, that they are not able to keep up with what is happening on the road. Reduced concentration can change the situation a person is in when driving in a split second. “In 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (31%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States” ("Impaired Driving: Get the facts"). These statistics are very high and …show more content…
This brings about one victim, Ashley, who was in the car of a drunk driver and is now a paraplegic because of her poor decision. When she was in the hospital, her parents were very scared seeing their daughter like this (Mateo). “The first time I woke up, my dad was standing over me looking scared. I didn’t want him to worry” (Mateo). Although she knew something tragic took place and she could not feel her legs, Ashley wanted to show her parents that she was strong and they had nothing to worry about (Mateo). Even with this assurance it is hard for any family member to think that their loved one is better after an accident caused by a drunk driver. This young woman had her whole life ahead of her to experience new things play sports, cheer, run marathons, whatever her heart desired (Mateo). Unfortunately, in the blink of an eye her life has changed forever; she will now require assistance to do many simple tasks that she used to accomplish on her own. Ashley will never know what it feels like to simply use her legs again due to the damage of the drunk driving