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December is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month

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 echo 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. So this year, stay safe during the holidays.

How to observe national drunk and drugged driving prevention month:

  • Do a sober period-During December, try to challenge yourself and set a period of time without drinking alcohol.
  • Take a cab or use a ride-sharing app after a party or visiting a bar-Call a cab, or better yet, use your ride-sharing app and let the professionals do the driving.
  • Be a Designated Driver-You'll make a great impression for being the one friend others can trust to drive back home.

Why National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month is Important:

  • Traffic-related deaths spike between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day- Consider this 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- 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's especially true on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when holiday parties are in full swing and the bars are packed. It's more likely that an alcohol or drug-impaired driver will accidentally kill either themselves, their passengers, or a pedestrian - or that an inebriated pedestrian will walk into the path of an innocent driver.

 

Each December, we all go out for fun, parties and drinks with family and friends. However, please stop and think for a second about being responsible. Your decision could save your life and the lives of others.

For information on National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, visit here.

Useful links:

  1. Drug-Impaired-Driving-Summary-Sheet-LD-508.pdf (cdc.gov)
  2. Socializing Safely This Season: National Impaired Driving Prevention Month | SAMHSA
  3. 5 Proactive Ways to Prevent Drunk Driving (alcoholicsanonymous.com)
  4. National Impaired Driving Prevention Month - Personalized Cause, Inc.