Playing it Safe: Don't Drink and Drive

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most dangerous and deadliest due to the increase in impaired driving.

Impaired driving (driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs) is one of the United States’ most often committed and deadliest crimes. In 2004, during the month of December alone, 1,210 people across America were killed in highway crashes involving a driver or a motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .01 or higher. Of those, 1,054 had an illegal BAC level of .08 or above. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that over 15,000 people died throughout 2004 in alcohol-related crashes. A 2005 poll conducted by the Gallup Organization on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) found that 60 percent of those surveyed who consume alcoholic beverages on occasion have operated a vehicle while impaired.

The State of Florida’s statistics are alarming. According to NHTSA, there were a total of 3,244 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2004. Of these, 1,222 (38%) were alcohol-related, and an additional 1,053 (32%) involved vehicle operators with a BAC in excess of .08.

The good news is that the number of impaired driving fatalities in Florida and nationwide is decreasing, thanks in part to efforts to educate the public about the dangers posed by impaired drivers. The MADD poll found that 94 percent of Americans believe that driving under the influence of alcohol is a major highway safety problem, and 87 percent support the use of sobriety checkpoints to check for drunk drivers. The poll also discovered that of all of those surveyed who had encouraged someone not to drive because they thought the person was impaired, three in four (77 percent) were successful.

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and as you venture out to enjoy the holiday season, I pray that you will take care to protect yourselves and others from the consequences of impaired driving. Here are a few steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim or perpetrating the crime of impaired driving:

· Always designate a sober driver before the parties begin;

· If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit, or call a sober friend or family member to help you get home safely;

· Report impaired drivers to law enforcement;

· Take the keys of friends and family members if you think they are about to drive while impaired;

· Always buckle up – it is your best defense against an impaired driver; or

· Spend the night where the activity is being held and sleep off your impairment.

I encourage you to visit the NHTSA-sponsored website www.stopimpaireddriving.org for further information on steps you can take to protect yourselves and those you love from impaired driving tragedies. Remember, play it safe and help keep the holidays happy!