National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

In December, many communities will observe National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. One of the important goals of this nation-wide campaign is to encourage Americans to make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent drunk, drugged, and distracted driving.

“According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,328 people were killed in distraction-affected crashes in 2012, and drivers in their 20s account for 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes,” said Capt Reed Reichwald, a clinical psychologist and the 1st Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program manager. “Also, an estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that involved a distracted driver in 2012.”

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. Distracted driving endangers driver, passenger and bystander safety – types of distractions include:

• Texting

• Using a cell phone or smartphone

• Eating and drinking

• Talking to passengers

• Grooming

• Reading, including maps

• Using a navigation system

• Watching a video

• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Text messaging is by far the most alarming distraction because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver.

Also, during the holiday season, Americans celebrate with friends, family and neighbors. For many people, this “holiday cheer” involves consuming alcohol at parties and other social events. Therefore, if you choose to consume alcohol, it’s vital that you drink responsibly.

“To further promote responsible alcohol use, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends low-risk drinking. Low-risk drinking is men consuming no more than 4 drinks on any single day and no more than 14 drinks per week; and women consuming no more than 3 drinks on any single day and no more than 7 drinks per week,” added Capt Reichwald.

A standard drink contains about one-half ounce of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in 12 ounces of regular beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Alcohol and drugs, both illicit and prescribed, can impair judgment, reaction time, motor skills and memory; thus, degrading an individual’s ability to drive safely. In the U.S., during 2012, a staggering 10,322 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver.

Following these easy steps, a driver can enjoy a safe and festive holiday season without jeopardizing their life and the lives of others who may be on the road:

·         Plan a safe way home before the party begins.

·         Before drinking, designate a sober driver and give that person your keys.

·         If impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.

·         Use your community’s sober ride programs, like Airman Against Drunk Driving.

·         If you happen to see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.

·         Remember, if you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, or ride with an impaired driver, take their keys and help them make other arrangements.

·         Don’t drive drowsy. Driving for more than 8 hours after a normal day’s activities is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05-0.08.

“The holidays should be a time for celebration, not tragedy,” Capt Reichwald said. “Please help us make our roadways safe by never driving after drinking and never engaging in distracted-driving.”