4th of July Message: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Is a Deadly Problem This Fourth of July

GOAL/POSITIONING: The goal is to warn people of the dangers and consequences of driving while impaired. In 2009, someone in the United States died in an impaired-driving crash every 48 minutes, according to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That is why the Putnam County Communities That Care Coalition, along with other highway safety, community, health and law enforcement officials, are reminding everyone this Fourth of July that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving and to designate a sober driver before the celebrations begin.

KEY MESSAGES:
During the July 4th holiday, alcohol is a major factor in fatal crashes
Motor vehicle traffic crashes killed 410 people during the Fourth of July holiday period in 2009. Of that number, 40 percent involved a driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.

Alcohol-impaired-driving crashes killed 10,839 people in 2009, accounting for 32 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. That’s an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 48 minutes.
Beware: the rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2009 was four times higher at night than during the day.

Whether way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk. Impaired Driving creates serious consequences.
 

Alcohol impairs many of the skills that safe driving requires, including judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual acuity and reaction time.

Driving with a BAC of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. Yet many people still ignore the law. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, more than 1.44 million people were arrested for driving under the influence during 2009.

The tragedies and costs from drinking and driving impaired do not just end at the potential death, disfigurement, disability and injury caused by impaired drivers.

Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is not worth the risk. The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant and not the way you want to celebrate the July 4th holiday.

People that break the law often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, car towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.

This summer don’t let your 4th of July end in an arrest—or even worse, death. Make smart decisions. Plan ahead so you can ensure a safe way home.

Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Don’t drink and drive.
 

Members of the Putnam CTC Coalition are available if you have any questions or would like for us to do a presentation to your organization on this or any other substance abuse trends that affect our children. Please call the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependencies of Putnam at 845-225-4646, Ext. 13 for information and referrals. Please visit and join us on Facebook by searching ―Putnam County Communities That Care – NY or by searching Twitter at ―PutnamCTCNY.

For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.