Safety Tidbit 6.03 – Stay Alive - Don’t Drink and Drive!

 

Safety Tidbit 6.03 – Stay Alive - Don’t Drink and Drive!

 

References:      CDC - Impaired Driving - Get the Facts

                        MADD - December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

                        White House - Proclamation on Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2020

 

This Safety Tidbit was written by my student, Mr. Lucas Ambler – a senior in the Safety Sciences Program at the Indiana University of PA graduating Summer 2021.

 

In the United States, one person is tragically killed every 50 minutes in a drunk driving accident. In 2016 alone, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, which accounted for 28% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. On November 30th, 2020, The President declared December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The proclamation's mission was to bring awareness to the problem and remember the lives taken due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

Alcohol, drugs, or other medications can impair judgment, perception, coordination, and slow reaction time to a point where the act of operating a motor vehicle is entirely unsafe. The deaths and accidents caused by driving impaired are 100% preventable. However, it takes more than just one person to prevent impaired driving from happening; it requires everyone taking on the personal responsibility of making smart decisions and planning a safe ride home. There are numerous safety precautions an individual can take to avoid impaired driving:

• Before drinking, designate a non-drinking driver when with a group.
• Don't let your friends drive while impaired.
• If you have been drinking, get a ride home, or use a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft.
• If you are hosting a party, remind your guests to plan and designate a sober driver.

 

Whereas this list may seem like common sense, common sense can be blurred and disappear once under the influence. Preparation not only saves your life, but it can save the lives of innocent families put at risk the second that impaired individual gets behind the wheel.

 

December is that time of the year where companies have annual Christmas parties that may involve alcohol. These parties are a great way to socialize and celebrate a year of hard work with colleagues. Ultimately, every person's responsibility is to make safe decisions, find a ride, or even designate themselves to give rides to other coworkers. By committing to following safe practices and avoiding driving impaired, we can prevent many tragedies. The holidays are a wonderful time of the year to celebrate, but in doing so, be safe, be smart, and be proactive in preventing impaired driving.

 

I hope this was helpful and thank you for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

 

P.S. If you have a new safety or health question, please let me know.