Buzzed Driving / St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to get the word out:  Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.  Even if you don't drink and drive, you may be sharing the road with others who do.  We can't count on the proverbial "luck of the Irish" to keep us safe.

Here are a few statistics that surprised me:

• In 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.  These are people who were driving home from work, going to school, coming home from choir practice, leaving a school sporting event, etc.
• On St. Patrick's Day 2008, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
• Additional NHTSA statistics show that in 2008, there were 134 crash fatalities on St. Patrick's Day. Out of that number, 50 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

So what can we do?

• If you're planning to consume alcohol--even just a little--plan ahead:  Designate a sober driver before you leave for your event.  Don't wait until you reach your destination to have this conversation.  Encourage others to plan ahead, as well.
• Plan for alternate transportation.  Know the bus route, have the number for a taxi service programmed into your phone, or have another plan set up ahead of time.  Again, encourage others to do the same.

Here are a few things you can do to learn more:

• Watch Emily's video
• Follow BuzzedDriving on Twitter
• Become a Facebook fan of Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Disclosure:  I am sharing this information as part of a campaign for Global Influence, NHTSA, and the Ad Council.  For my participation, I received an entry into a prize drawing.  No money was exchanged, and I have not received other compensation in any form.