December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Month. We are in the full swing of celebrating the holiday season. There are office parties, family and friend’s parties and dinners, and community get-togethers. According to The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) in 2019, 210 people lost their lives during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to alcohol-related fatalities.
As far back as the 1980s, there has been an effort to bring awareness to the problem of driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Television networks would regularly broadcast PSA commercials about the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. One of the more vocal organizations against drunk driving is a non-profit named Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. MADD was founded in 1980 in Sacramento, California by Candace Lightner and Cindi Lamb after the women lost children in accidents caused by a drunk driver. Then there was the designated-driver campaign during the late 1980s. Now that ride-share apps are available, there is no reason this should still be an issue in the United States.
Driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a serious issue that poses a threat to the safety of everyone on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020 there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes nationwide. This accounts for nearly one-third of all crash fatalities that year. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHSTA) runs two campaigns during the holiday season, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and If You Feel Different, You Drive Different - Drive High Get a DUI. While these videos are helpful, it is up to the individual to take responsibility for their actions and make the right choice when it comes to drinking and driving.
