DEPARTMENTS > COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

Letter to the Editor - Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Hurts Everyone

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it is necessary to remind everyone about the dangers of impaired driving. In 2007 alone, approximately 12,998 people were killed in alcohol-impaired collisions, while many others were injured. That means about 36 people die per day as a result of an intoxicated driver, about 2 people an hour. Also, drunken motorcycle driving has increased by 10 percent since last year. Over 37,000 people were arrested for DWI in 2007 and out of every 200 to 2,000 alcohol impaired drivers on the road, only one is arrested.

In fact, the average American has a 30 percent chance of being killed or injured by an impaired driver during their lifetime. And while the number of alcohol related deaths have decreased, impaired driving is still the leading cause of death for people under age 30.

The real tragedy is that this all could have been prevented had the drivers waited until they were sober to drive or had a designated driver to take them home.

The winter holiday season is an especially crucial time of the year to address the issue of impaired driving and its impact upon communities. With the proliferation of celebrations, high school reunions, college friends gathering and holiday parties, the potential risk of impaired driving becomes even greater.

In order to create a real difference in the way the community views impaired driving, we need your help. Impaired driving is not just a problem for the courts or the victims, but it is a problem for all of us. When impaired drivers take the road, they not only put themselves at risk, they put our lives, our children, our friends, our grandparents and our society at risk.

In addition to the physical and emotional damage they inflict as a result of their careless behavior, they place a financial burden on the community in the form of court costs, emergency services, the repair of public property and more.

What can you do to help?

First, don’t drink and drive. Encourage safe driving behaviors among family, friends and coworkers. You can do this by volunteering to be a designated driver, planning to ride home with a sober driver, staying put, or using a safe ride such as a taxi cab. Many communities have designated driver and safe-ride programs, where alternate transportation is provided free of cost. If your area does not, think about starting one. Remember to support law enforcement efforts to rid roads of impaired drivers. Encourage their continued enforcement of impaired driving laws to protect your family, friends and the community at large.

No one wants to face the New Year with the loss of a loved one. If we treat impaired driving as the grave problem that it is, then hopefully no one will have to.

If you would like any alcohol or drug related information, please feel free to contact the Manalapan/Englishtown Community Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse at (73....

 Lisa Harmon Mollicone

Licensed Clinical Alcohol & Drug Counselor/Prevention Specialist

Manalapan/Englishtown Coordinator for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse