December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Mug Shots no one wants to see

Ed. Note: The last thing any reasonable person wants to see is their mug shot published in a newspaper along with their name assigned to a Bookings Report of recent arrests for (alleged) DWI, which is one of the reasons The Advance does it – to serve as a deterrent, no minor how that may be.

The season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is described by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals as “one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to an increase in impaired driving.” (My wife states that this is an alcohol crisis that is being purposefully ignored.)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in an average year, 35 million Americans drive drunk, and 10 million drive under the influence of illegal drugs. In fact, there is a sad story inside this issue about the deaths of two people allegedly tied to drunk driving. So young, and now they’re dead, while the guy charged with driving drunk when the deadly crash occurred barely got a scratch.

This year, my wife and I lost an old friend courtesy of an alleged drunk driver who ran over him and a friend while both were out riding bicycles. Twenty-three years ago, our daughter almost died courtesy of a drunk-driving accident (she wasn’t driving). The call at 3 a.m. is one you never forget. Neither is the time spent in ICU wondering if the person you love lying comatose will ever awaken.

So, this Christmas season, while all the alcohol manufacturers and beer distributors are out advertising their merchandise (AKA, legal drugs) to get you to drink more, or at least buy more, please remember not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Not only could you die or be badly maimed, but you might kill someone or an entire family for that matter. At the very least, you may find your photo on the pages of The Advance News Journal.

Note: All people pictured on this page remain innocent until proven guilty.