The Future of San Diego DUI
How might San Diego DUI laws and practices evolve over the next several decades? Given the diverse arrest trends and trends in driver behavior and automotive safety features, it can be incredibly difficult to read the tea leaves. But there’s a good likelihood that one or more of the following prognostications will come to pass:
1. More legal equivalence between DUI and Driving While Texting (DWT) -- preliminary studies clearly show that drivers who text or speak on the cell phone while on the road are more likely than non-distracted drivers to get into injury crashes. One widely publicized study found that truckers who texted were 23 times more likely than non-distracted drivers to crash. In short, it seems likely that the legislature at some point must recognize that DWT and driving while talking on the cell phone can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
2. Increased automotive safety features won't necessarily lead to a decrease in San Diego DUI injury crashes -- as Tom Vanderbilt points out in his engrossing book, Traffic, the advent of new automotive safety features has not historically reduced injury crashes. Instead, what seems to happen is that drivers’ road actions become more aggressive as safety features improve. For instance, as braking systems have become more responsive, drivers have adopted the habit of following other cars more closely, thus negating the safety impacts of the advanced technology.
3. Better substance abuse treatment programs may ultimately lead to a decline in San Diego DUI cases -- currently, many San Diego DUI treatment facilities utilize rehabilitation methods that just don’t seem to work, at least according to statistical reviews. For instance, studies have suggested that many treatment programs may be as ineffective as doing nothing at all. If we collectively can come to a better understanding about what alcohol and drug addiction is and how it can be treated, perhaps we can reduce the number and severity of incidences of driving under the influence in San Diego.
If you or a friend or a family member has been arrested for San Diego DUI, you likely will need to retain legal counsel. The Law Offices of Stephen R. Brodsky offer free, zero obligation consultations for potential San Diego DUI defendants. Find out more about Attorney Brodsky’s skills, successes, reputation, and philosophy at www.criminalattorneysandiego.com, or connect with someone today at 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE.
