From CADCA, June 18, 2009:
According to NHTSA, drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest problems. In 2007, 12,998 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. However, much of the drunk driving tragedies can be prevented with a few simple precautions before going out to celebrate, and coalitions can play an important role by reminding their community of these important precautions:
• Plan ahead: Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;
• If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely;
• Use your community’s Sober Rides program;
• Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
NHTSA’s July 4th planner includes marketing materials and templates, such as news release templates, banners, posters and fact sheets, that coalitions can use to support their impaired driving initiatives surrounding the Fourth of July for both social norming and enforcement efforts. The marketing tools are built on NHTSA’s message platforms: “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving” (Social Norming) and “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” (Enforcement).
