December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

December 21, 2015

More than 10,000 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those fatalities made up about a third of all traffic-related deaths that year.

The CDC says 30 people are killed every day in the US by accidents involving drunk drivers. The problem of drunk and drugged driving kills men, women and children every day in America. For this reason, December is specially designated as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. With increased travel and holiday parties involving alcoholic beverages, December is an apt time to remind ourselves of the dangers of drunk, buzzed and drugged driving.

To do your part to prevent impaired driving over the holidays and all year-round, consider these pointers from the CDC:

• Designate a sober driver before you and your group begin drinking
• Never allow your friends to drive while they are impaired. If you must, insist on taking their keys away
• If you have been drinking or using intoxicating substances, please get an Uber, taxi or ask a sober friend to drive you home. Public transportation is always an option as well
• If you are hosting your friends and family at a party, provide the option of non-alcoholic beverages and ask your guests to please plan ahead for getting home safely

Drunk and drugged driving is a problem, but we can all do our part to prevent these tragic DUI accidents. By taking a little bit of time to plan ahead, you can avoid getting in a situation where you feel like you must drive yourself home when you shouldn’t.

Source: cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html