Alcohol and Driving Don’t Mix

I’m sure you’re like duh, we know this. Well, then why is it that every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 48 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $51 billion. In 2009, 10,839 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

A dad of some dear friends of mine was killed on a motorcycle just this week because of a mix of alcohol, motorcycle and tractor trailer. I went to a function last night where people were having social drinks and then saying no to additional drinks because they had to drive. So some people get it, and unfortunately some don’t.

The CDC has compiled a number of life saving tips on how can deaths and injuries from impaired driving be prevented?

-Actively enforcing existing 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws, minimum legal drinking age laws, and zero tolerance laws for drivers younger than 21 years old in all states.
-Promptly taking away the driver's licenses of people who drive while intoxicated.
-Using sobriety checkpoints.
-Putting health promotion efforts into practice that influence economic, organizational, policy, and school/community action.
-Using community-based approaches to alcohol control and DWI prevention.
-Requiring mandatory substance abuse assessment and treatment, if needed, for DWI offenders.

What safety steps can individuals take?

Whenever your social plans involve alcohol, make plans so that you don’t have to drink and drive. For example:

-Prior to any drinking, designate a non-drinking driver when with a group.
-Don’t let your friends drive impaired. Take their keys away.
-If you have been drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi.
-If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver; offer alcohol-free beverages; and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.

Life is precious. Please make sure the decisions you make regarding alcohol and driving don’t put your life or anyone else’s at risk, ever.

Robert Siciliano personal and small business security specialist toADT Small Business Security discussing ADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

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