DRUNK AND DRUGGED DRIVING (3D) PREVENTION MONTH
Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime.
Alcohol-related traffic deaths are on the rise and underage drinking levels have
begun to increase. During this busy time we must work together to help keep our
roadways safe.
New statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
show that in 2000 the nation experienced the largest percentage increase in
alcohol-related traffic deaths on record. In 2002, 17,419 people were killed in
crashes involving alcohol, representing 41 percent of the 42,815 people killed
in all traffic crashes.
The time around the holidays is one of several higher-risk periods for drunk
driving during the year. In 2002, between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, 1,561
people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes, representing nearly 38.8
percent of the 4,019 killed in all crashes.
We can all play a part in preventing crashes involving alcohol by making a
simple decision to designate a non-drinking driver, one of the most effective
ways to combat this deadly problem.
Holiday drinking is not our only problem, however. Numbers show that this
type of abuse is now spreading among our children. The Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration Household Survey on Dug Abuse shows
disappointing results in the fight against youth alcohol use, reporting an
estimated 9.7 million youth (27.5 percent) aged 12 to 20 reported drinking
alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Of these, 6.6 million (18.7 percent)
were binge drinkers and 2.1 million (6 percent) were heavy drinkers.
During these next weeks it is especially important to remember that our
actions affect others. What we do impacts the people around us and we must act
responsibly to help prevent these already alarming statistics from increasing.
