Buzzed Driving
With New Year’s Eve approaching, drunk driving always comes to the top of my head. It seems particularly in our area, it is an issue. Whenever our family goes out walking, there are always several beer cans & cases on the side of the road – it really is a sad issue.
Let’s be dedicated to being safe this year!
In all honesty, I don’t drink – never have, probably never will – it’s just not something I choose to do. I’m just as happy with a mocktail – Pina Colada please! However, the majority of our friends do drink, and I don’t have a problem with a drink or two. I do have a problem with excessive drinking and with drinking and driving.
In 2008, nearly 12,000 people in the U.S. were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes – and during the periods around Christmas and New Year’s, this number was particularly high, with 316 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In 2007, 162,493 women were arrested for a DUI, an increase of almost 29% since 1998. You can’t help but wonder if lives could have been saved if people thought twice before getting behind the wheel.
Take a look at Emily’s Story:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) and the Ad Council are asking everyone to drive smart this holiday season and to pledge not to drive buzzed. You can also play an interactive game which demonstrates the difference between buzzed and drunk. You can also follow Buzzed Driving on Twitter and Facebook.
While at holiday events, it’s easy to lose track of a drink here or there – but this can be fatal. This holiday season, please keep you and your family safe.
Have a safe and happy New Year, and remember that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.
C-
