Impaired driving prevention

For decades, the month of December has been declared as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

During this month filled with holiday parties and travel, it is imperative to be aware of how much you have had to drink at the company Christmas party or the New Year’s Eve bash at a friend’s house, and make sure you make it home safely.

The number of drunk driving incidents and fatal crashes peaks this time of year, from Thanksgiving through New Years, all across the country, and Wyoming is no exception.

On average, every 50 minutes, a person in the United States dies in a vehicle crash involving alcohol. In 2016, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol related crashes in this country, accounting for 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Wyoming has averaged 1,000 alcohol related crashes over the past 10 years. More than 50 people die on Wyoming’s streets and highways due to drinking and driving.

Drunk driving or driving while impaired affects everyone, young and old alike, and Wyoming has some pretty scary statistics to show for it.

The Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) in drivers involved in crashes in Wyoming is nearly double of any other state in the nation. In fact, Wyoming is ranked #1 in BAC per capita.

Of the 14,305 crashes registered in 2015, there were 3,819 people injured with rollovers being the most typical type of accident on Wyoming’s roads.

Those crashes involved 2,729 drivers between the ages of 14 and 20-years old.

Nearly 40 percent of those accidents were alcohol or drug related.

When you look at Hot Springs County, you’ll find we are ranked #3 in the state for alcohol related deaths. Alcohol impairment accounts for 23 percent of our accidents in the county.

Big Horn County, with Greybull, Lovell and other small towns, is #1 with 68 percent of their accidents attributable to drugs or alcohol.

The sad thing is, all of these incidents can be avoided.

If you are at a function serving alcohol this holiday season (or any time of the year) take the time to designate a sober driver or plan another way home before the party even starts.

If you don’t have a designated driver, you can ask a sober friend for a ride or, call a cab or a family member to come get you. You can even consider just staying at the host’s home for the night.

Never let your friends drive drunk, either. And always, always buckle up. Even if you’re the sober driver, your seat belt is the best defense against the impaired drivers who are out there.

Did you know, if you’re the one hosting the party, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served, even in your home, ends up in a drunk-driving crash?

Make sure your guests have plenty of things to snack on at your party as eating helps, and stop serving alcohol at some point and begin serving non-alcoholic beverages and coffee.

This is also an excellent time to talk with your teens about not drinking and driving. Set an example for your young drivers by not drinking and driving yourself, and always be available to pick up your teen and their friends if they’re caught in a drinking-driving situation.

It is up to each and every driver on the road to be sober before sliding behind the wheel.