If you’ve been reading this newspaper the past few weeks and still don’t think twice about having a few drinks before driving, you’ve not
been paying attention. Although Baird was acquitted Wednesday, there’s no way he’ll ever forget his ordeal. His acquittal was compared to O.J. Simpson’s and came on the same day U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy — dogged for decades by innuendo over his ability to drive before an accident that killed Mary Jo Kopechne — died. Only one man knows for sure how many drinks he had that night. And whether Baird had one or 10, he’d be a fool to ever drive again in Vero Beach after drinking more than a plain, old Coca-Cola. At least Baird will have an opportunity to drive again — after his license is reinstated. It was suspended because he refused to take a Breathalyzer test. On the other hand, three Martin County teens — one was 16 — never will drink or drive again. The young men were killed about 2 a.m. Aug. 4 when their Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed into a John Deere loader near a road construction project. Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the accident, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people have no idea what it takes for their faculties to be “impaired” while driving. The threshold is not being “drunk” it’s far less. It doesn’t take much to be impaired while driving.
Years ago I participated in a Pennsylvania State Police exercise. Police served reporters drinks — I slowly drank a few beers — had us blow into a Breathalyzer, then drive a pylon-lined course in a driver’s education car on an airport tarmac.