National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

December marks National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and is an appropriate time to highlight the problem because of the holidays celebrated during this time.

Of course, December, and the holidays alone are not cause to recognize the tragedies that occur from drunk, and drugged driving because both are done on a daily basis no matter what month it is.

Thirty-six people die every day in the U.S., and about 700 are injured in car wrecks that involved a driver who was alcohol-impaired. Occasions to celebrate with drink, and merriment often turn into nightmares, however.

"In 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), reports.

Teens are far from being excluded in the death rates, as many know. Look around when driving sometime, and you'll notice memorials tacked to telephone poles, and other objects to remember the young people who were killed in alcohol-related crashes, or crashes in general.

• At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers.
• Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 37% were speeding at the time of the crash and 26% had been drinking.
• In 2008, 25% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or higher.
• In a national survey conducted in 2007, nearly three out of ten teens reported that, within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. One in ten reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period.
• In 2008, nearly three out of every four teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.
• In 2008, half of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred between 3 p.m. and midnight and 56% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

(Data from the (YRBSS), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System)

Even when teens don't drink and drive, "The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16 to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash," reported the CDC. Factor in alcohol, and/or drugs with these teens, and the numbers only get worse.

The problem with drinking, and/or drugging alone is overwhelming in this country with just addiction. Add a rolling 2 ton vehicle in with an intoxicated driver, and the situation usually becomes potentially grim, or a flat-out nightmare. The death rates of teens, adults, and babies who are the victims of these drivers, including themselves for that matter, bare that out.

• In one year, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This accounts for less than 1% of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol–impaired driving among U.S. adults each year.
• Alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion a year.

Protect your family and friends this holiday season

By following these simple recommendations by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), we can prevent some of these tragedies from occurring this hilidaty season, or any other day of the week.

• Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins.
• Take the keys. Do not let a friend drive if they are impaired.
• Be a helpful host. If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, always offer alcohol-free beverages, and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.

Have a safe, and joyous hoilday season.

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