Opening Statement:
Starting at the beginning of each December, we go out to parties, drinks with family, friends, and co-workers. But the important thing we need to keep in mind is… stop and think for a second about being responsible. The responsibility not only for yourself and your family, but for others driving on the road or walking across the streets. December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month and since the holiday season has a higher accident rate than others on average, it is important to repeat the message of consciousness of being in a proper state behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Council, over 40,000 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents last year. This year and always, stay safe during the holidays and don’t drink and drive or take drugs and try to drive.
History Of National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
· Since 1981, high officials across America have worked hard promoting the importance of staying sober while driving during the month of December, proclaimed National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month or National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and it all stemmed from one woman and her determination.
· On May 3, 1980, thirteen-year-old Cari Lightner was struck and killed by Clarence Busch in a drunk driving accident. When police arrested Clarence, they found this was not his first occurrence, even down to a hit-and-run drunk driving fine less than a week before his accident with Cari. At the time, driving while intoxicated was a misdemeanor that was barely prosecuted, meaning that Busch was very unlikely to have gone to jail.
· This unacceptable fact motivated Cari’s mother, Candy Lightner, to act. The result was the non-profit organization known as MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Candy’s movement quickly grew across the nation. She pushed to a stricter definition of what drunk driving was, having legislators pass stricter laws and prosecutions that included jail time and license suspensions, up to having President Reagan establish 21 as the minimum drinking age and appointing Lightner as part of a commission developed to tackle the issue.
· To this day, Candy continues to advocate for anti-drunk, drugged, and distracted driving legislation as president of We Save Lives. “I am not against drinking. I am for responsible drinking. We don’t let people walk around with a loaded gun in our neighborhood. But we let them drive when they drink.”
Why National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Is Important
· Traffic-Related Deaths Spike Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day
With all the drinking during the holiday season, it's not a stretch to see why so many people are dying on the roads. Consider this dreadful statistic: Over 45 people are killed each day by an alcohol-impaired driver and those numbers climb at the end of the year. Additionally, in 68 percent of traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver, there was a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or higher with the legal limit being 0.8.
· Drugs Also Contribute to Traffic Deaths
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has expanded its mission statement to include drug-impaired driving. Mixing alcohol with opioids may increase a driver's sedation, which can lead to serious consequences on the road. In 2017, researchers at Columbia University reported a seven-fold jump (since 1995) in the number of drivers killed while operating a vehicle under the influence of prescription drugs.
· Pedestrian Deaths Increase
It is especially true on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when holiday parties are in full swing and the bars are packed. Therefore, the fatality risk goes both ways. It's more likely that an alcohol or drug-impaired driver will accidentally kill either themselves, their passengers, or a pedestrian. It is also possible that an inebriated pedestrian will walk into the path of an innocent driver.
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month Timeline
July 3, 2014 - Safety Bill
Rep. Nita Lowey sponsored national legislation requiring car ignition interlocks.
July 2004 - Setting The Limit
All 50 states adopted .08 as the legal blood alcohol limit.
1990 - Becomes Law
The Supreme Court ruled that police sobriety checks on public roads are constitutional.
1980 - Speaking Up
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) founder Candy Lightner challenged legislators to take drunk driving seriously.
Closing Statement:
I wanted to bring forward some very important and astonishing facts. There are 27 people daily who die in a drunk driving accident in the US. Around the world, it is South Africa that has the highest rate of fatalities. Six out of every ten fatalities on South Africa's roads are drunk-driving related accidents. The two deadliest holidays on average are New Year’s Eve, having the most DUI arrests, but the 4th of July has the most drunk driving related deaths. Another huge fact is…there is no “sobering” element. Neither coffee, having something to eat, or taking a shower will make a person sober up, only time does! This huge fact regarding sobering is one of the most important questions on the Department of Motor Vehicles knowledge test as well as the BAC limit for anyone to learn and pass the knowledge test for a drivers permit. Just plain and put simply…DO NOT DRINK OR DO DRUGS AND GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A CAR AND DRIVE!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches and Personal Comments
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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