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ADAPT: Catch a buzz, catch a ride

  • Published
  • By ADAPT
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  An information booth will be set up at the Base Exchange Dec. 7 and 13 to remind everyone to always designate a sober driver before each party or event involving alcohol this holiday season .

"The holiday season is supposed to be a time for family, friends, and festive celebrations, but it is unfortunately also a time when we see a tragic jump in the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities each year between Thanksgiving and New Year's" said Staff Sgt. Ruth Basil, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program NCO in charge. "That's why we are out early reminding everyone this holiday season, if you catch a buzz, catch a ride."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. Impaired driving is one of America's deadliest crimes. Every 30 minutes, nearly 50 times a day, someone in America dies in an alcohol-related crash. Hundreds of thousands more are injured each year.

According to 325th Security Forces Squadron twenty Driving Under the Influence charges have been handled by Tyndall so far this year. Twelve of those drivers were military. The numbers are almost half the 2004 and 2005 totals.

"Designating a sober driver before the party begins is just one of several, simple steps to remember to help avoid a tragic crash or an arrest for impaired driving," said Sergeant Basil.

Tyndall's Airmen Against Drunk Driving program already provided 274 safe rides to military members this year. All calls to the hotline, (850) 867-0220, are kept confidential and anonymous.

ADAPT also provides the following simple reminders for a safe holiday season:
· Don't even think about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle if you've been drinking alcohol.
· If you are impaired, call a taxi, get a sober friend or family member to come and get you. · Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired.

Sergeant Basil also said when hosting a party this holiday season, offer alcohol-free beverages during the event, and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month is in December to help underscore the public's commitment to preventing impaired driving and promote the use of designated drivers and sober ride programs. The month of December and the New Year's Eve holiday are also often highlighted by significant increases in state and local law enforcement efforts to combat impaired driving such as the use of sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

"Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is simply not worth the risk," said Sergeant Basil. "The consequences are serious and real. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant and not the way you want to spend your holiday season."