National Drunk and Drugged Drving Month

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. It's time to draw public awareness and enforcement campaigns to prevent impaired driving. The first campaign has grown dramatically since 1982 when President Ronald Reagan signed the first proclamation for drunk and drugged driving month. Since that organizations and communities have helped to celebrate and draw awareness.

There are so many Holiday parties that are meant to be fun and normally are. The problem is when you get ready to drive and either you or another driver out there is driving drunk or drugged. My mother always said it is not that you have to be aware of what you are doing and driving but also that there are many other drivers out there and we do not know where they have been or how their driving is. Every day, nearly 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol impaired driver. One death is too many but when you look at the numbers there is 1 death in every 48 minutes. These numbers are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention week draws awareness and the goal is to remind everyone to "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over". The goal of encouraging safe and sober driving is a goal that we should all strive for or get a designated driver if you plan to party. Our own family has been affected by drunk drivers the first my uncle at the tender age of 16 and then my cousin right after returning from Iraq.

 

In addition to driving safely with no drugs or alcohol be sure that you are also driving without being distracted. We have all seen the commercial of where one last message was their last message. It would be so sad if you were headed out to the family get together and that message that you send would distract you enough that your driving suffers and causes a wreck. Your message can wait and if it can not then pull over and send a message while parked.

 

 

 

Be safe out there