Don’t Wreck the Holidays

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

As we all know, it is against the law to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after having one drink too many at happy hour or using illegal drugs. If caught driving drunk or high, penalties in Rogers County can include jail time, court fees and fines, and driving restrictions. Many are not aware, however, that driving after taking prescription ­medicine can also lead to impaired driving and the ­related criminal charges. People often assume that only illegal drug use could result in a DUI ­(driving under the influence) charge. “What Healthy Community Partnership members want to let everyone know is that ­taking any sort of substance (alcohol, medication or illicit drugs) impairs your ­ability to operate your vehicle is ­breaking the law," said Trisha DeLozier, HCP ­certified ­prevention specialist.    December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and focuses on both drunk driving and the growing problem of drugged driving. Drugged driving has been overlooked for a number of years, but research shows it may be responsible for more than 20 percent of car crashes.  

    The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office reports that in 2012 there were 19 drivers under the age of 21 with a drug-related driver condition and passengers in their vehicle. Fortunately, there were no passenger fatalities, but 12 were seriously injured. In the same year, there were 106 drivers age 21 and older with a drug-related driver condition and passengers in the vehicle. One passenger was killed and 81 others were seriously injured.

    To demonstrate further the increased problem of drugged driving, a national survey shows drugs were ­present more than seven times as frequently as alcohol among weekend nighttime drivers in the United States.

    “One problem,” says DeLozier, “is that law ­enforcement officers currently have no technology to help them identify drugged drivers. With alcohol a Breathalyzer is useful, but new funding is being sought on the federal level to research methods such as a saliva test for the drugged driving suspects.” In addition, to combat the problem, drug recognition trainings are becoming more common and officers can become certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).  

    “‘Don’t Wreck the Holidays’ is a message we hope to promote this month,” said Amy Graham, a project director at Volunteers for Youth and an HCP member. “Impaired driving can affect every one of us, even if we are not the one driving under the influence,” she added.  

    Conservative estimates show drugged driving is responsible for 440,000 injuries and $59.9 billion in costs each year. Of the people who died in impaired crashes (other than drivers) 1,612 were passengers, 1,049 were occupants of other vehicles, 710 were pedestrians or ­bicyclists, and 91 were child passengers.

    Impaired driving fatalities occur all year-round, but data shows that the holiday season is a particularly dangerous time on the roadways. Many of these tragedies could have been avoided. Most occurred because of a person’s bad decision to drive after drinking alcohol and often combining that with prescription medications or other drugs. “When you choose to drive while impaired, you are endangering yourself, your passengers, and those on the road around you,” Graham added.

    Volunteers for Youth and Healthy Community Partnership are working to bring awareness about this preventable tragedy by ­providing window clings and stickers to Rogers County high school students for ­distribution to friends and parents. “We ask that you help to share this message this holiday season,” said Graham. “‘Don’t Wreck the Holidays: Pledge to never accept a ride with an impaired driver.’” 

For more information, contact

Healthy Community Partnership and Volunteers for Youth

1700 S. Lynn Riggs Blvd.

Claremore, OK 74017

(918) 260-0301

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