What an important message for this time of the year, and truly, all year round. Take the time to be an educated parent, have safer teens and potentially save a life.

Did you know that in 2008, nearly 12,000 drivers or motorcycle riders died in alcohol-related crashes?

That's one person every 40 minutes. Many people are under the misconception that you would have to be "falling down drunk" to be too impaired to drive safely. That couldn't be further from the truth. Last year alone, during the winter holiday season, 420 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. You can't help but wonder if those lives could have been saved if people thought twice before getting behind the wheel.

With the holidays approaching, it's important that drivers be reminded about the dangers of buzzed driving. Who knows, it could save a life.

The National Highway Safety and Traffic Association (NHTSA) and the Ad Council are continuing their efforts with their PSA campaign called "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving." The buzzed driver is one who drinks and drives, but does not consider himself a hazard on the roadway because "only a few" drinks are consumed. The campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even a few drinks can impair driving and that "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving."

During the holiday season help keep "buzzed" drivers off the road. Learn about the dangers of buzzed driving, share a story or experience you might have had with buzzed driving and follow them on Twitter @BuzzedDriving and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/buzzeddrivingisdrunkdriving ) to get the latest updates and news from NHTSA.

You can also visit the website (http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/ ) where readers can sign a pledge not to drive buzzed, play an interactive game to help them understand how drinking can impair driving, and hear personal stories from people who have driven buzzed.

Watch the 30 second video below.

Be an educated parent - have a safer teen and holiday season.

Reminder: Holiday Safety Tips

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