Cars and Bars

MADD announced a few days ago their new campaign to install alcohol-detection devices in cars of drunk drivers. While this will likely reduce repeat incidences of drunk driving somewhat, I can't help but think this is a band-aid solution. The true problem is cars themselves, or rather, the car culture that has developed in America (and is developing elsewhere).

With the urban sprawl spawned by the Interstate Highway System, no one stays local to do anything. We can't, really. After all, we live far from where we work far from where we shop far from where we eat far from where we drink. If at least our favorite watering hole were within walking distance or a short drive away, incidences of drunk driving would plummet. (And think how much happier in general we would all be if everything else were closer as well. I can't tell you how nice it is to live a 5-minute walk away from the supermarket.)

But the growth of interesting, self-containing, walkable communities—oases in our urban deserts—is obviously a pipe dream (except for Prince Charles' urban village of Poundbury). However, another feature of our car culture can be changed: public transport.

There is simply no easy way to get to and from bars, restaurants, and other weekend places without driving a car. Public transport, if it even goes to the desired destination, shuts down at 10pm. You might be able to get a ride with a friend, but what if he's drunk, too? And what if you went to a bar by yourself, to drink in solitude? Of course, you could always call a cab, but those are a bit of a rip-off because everything is so far away.

Let's get our scattered places well connected, so it's easy to get around without a car. This will not only decrease drunk driving, but improve the quality of life for everyone: the less we have to stress over traffic, fight over parking spots, and fret over gas prices, the better our lives will be. Many of us may then have less need to get drunk in the first place.A couple of thoughts on what will really reduce drunk driving in America.