Capitol Grounds
Glorifying DWI
RECEIVED Mon., Dec. 11, 2017
My Dear Editor,
The reason the roads are so dangerous is because of the culture we’ve created. Austin has the special shame of having a hit-and-run rate that’s 50% higher than the national average. For bicycling, it doesn’t matter how many miles of new bike lanes we stripe in; unless and until we change drivers’ hearts and minds, the roads will never be safe.
That’s why it’s especially disheartening to see our alternative local weekly deciding that one of the few categories in its [“Best of Austin”] Readers Poll for Services should be for the Best Drunk Driving Lawyer. You didn’t think best doctor, best bank, or best dentist would have been more appropriate, not just because those categories are far less controversial, but also because those services are far more likely to actually be used by the average reader? No, instead you chose to glorify the defense of drunk driving. With friends like these ….
The reason the roads are so dangerous is because of the culture we’ve created. Austin has the special shame of having a hit-and-run rate that’s 50% higher than the national average. For bicycling, it doesn’t matter how many miles of new bike lanes we stripe in; unless and until we change drivers’ hearts and minds, the roads will never be safe.
That’s why it’s especially disheartening to see our alternative local weekly deciding that one of the few categories in its [“Best of Austin”] Readers Poll for Services should be for the Best Drunk Driving Lawyer. You didn’t think best doctor, best bank, or best dentist would have been more appropriate, not just because those categories are far less controversial, but also because those services are far more likely to actually be used by the average reader? No, instead you chose to glorify the defense of drunk driving. With friends like these ….
Michael Bluejay
