WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The holiday season is a time of year when people
gather with friends, colleagues and family to enjoy time together and
celebrate. Often these social events
include alcohol. A driver’s license
mixed with a few alcoholic beverages can be dangerous. No one intends for alcohol-impaired driving
accidents to happen, but they do.
“Every single injury and death caused by drunk
driving is totally preventable by not driving under the influence,” states
Steve Callon, AFMC Drug Demand Reduction Manager. “Plan ahead to have a
designated sober driver that will drive everyone in your group home safely at
the end of the night.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, more than 10,000 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving
crashes in 2013. An average of one
alcohol-impaired-driving fatality occurred every 52 minutes during 2013.
The
NHTSA offers the following tips to stay safe and drive sober:
- Designate a sober driver before the
party begins; plan a way to get home safely at the end of the night.
- Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let
that person get behind the wheel.
- If you see someone driving impaired,
contact law enforcement with a vehicle description when it is safe to do
so. It is your business. Getting
drunk drivers off the road saves lives.
- Walking while impaired can be just as
dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a
sober friend to walk you home.
- If you have been drinking, there is
always another way to get home safely. You
can call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or call your local free
ride program.
Did
you know? The worst days of the year for
drunk driving are:
1. New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day
2. The Fourth of July
3. St. Patrick’s Day
4. Thanksgiving Eve/Thanksgiving Day
Airmen
Against Drunk Driving was formed to eliminate DUIs/DWIs on Air Force bases and
in surrounding communities. The goal of
AADD is to safely return all military members and Department of Defense
civilians to a residence if they are unable to drive themselves.
Individuals that choose to drink should plan
ahead for a designated sober driver or ride home. But if the plan fails, call AADD. Bases vary on program hours of operation and
service area. Check with your installation for more information on its program.