subject: The Saddest Part of Drunk Driving [print this page] The Saddest Part of Drunk Driving The Saddest Part of Drunk Driving
As a retired police officer now working in Juvenile Detention, I have seen and continue to see the horrible results of teenage drinking, drugging and driving.
As we approach the Holiday Season, a time when many teens are involved in fatal vehicle crashes because of their misuse of alcohol and drugs, I would like to make two points in this article.
First, "Buzzed driving is drunk driving." For some, even one drink can have a negative effect on your driving skills. That one drink can slow down your reaction time to the point that you are involved in a serious crash.
New Year's Eve is a time of celebration. It is the night when even those who don't normally drink alcohol, ring in the New Year by having a glass or two of champagne. Whatever your thoughts are about drinking, if you decide to partake in consuming alcoholic beverages during the upcoming holidays, consider the following before heading-out to the party:
Plan how you will get home safely
Before drinking, talk with your peers and designate a sober driver
If you are impaired, call a sober friend, take a taxi, call a family member or use public transportation
If you see a driver who appears under the influence on the roadway, try to write down the license plate and notify the police
And remember, Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk or under the influence.
My second point is, as a police officer, it was always difficult handling a vehicle crash where young people were involved because of drinking or drugging and driving. But the saddest of all traffic crashes I have handled were those involving the death of a teen who had done everything to avoid drinking, drugging and driving and died because of someone else's negative behavior and/or lack of responsibility.
The following poem has been around for a long time. The author is unknown but the message is clear. After reading it, think about it because the victim could be you or someone close to you. Have a wonderful holiday season and remember there are plenty of other ways to have fun without drinking.
