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Community Organization Op Ed
With the arrival of the Labor Day holiday, Americans are preparing
for end of summer travel and celebration with family and friends.
Unfortunately, holidays are a dangerous time on our nation’s
roads because of impaired driving. In 2002, 55% of fatalities from
motor vehicle crashes during the Labor Day weekend were alcohol-related.
As a community leader with [insert your group name here], it is
important to remind neighbors and friends to drive safely this
holiday weekend. We encourage you to help spread the message about
the risks of impaired driving
Last year, more than 43,000 Americans were killed and another three
million injured in motor vehicle crashes. More than 40% of those
deaths came from alcohol-related crashes, according to National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. This translates to more than 17,000
fatalities, enough to fill up a large-sized sports arena [or name
the local sports arena in your area such as the MCI Center]. Furthermore,
the vast majority of these deaths - 12,000 of them - occurred in
crashes that involved at least one person who had a blood alcohol
content of at least .08 percent, the legal driving limit in all states
in the country.
Though we have made progress, many drivers still don’t get
the message: You Drink & You Drive. You Lose. What will it take
for all Americans to understand the dangers of driving while impaired?
When will we wake up and stop the carnage on our highways? Will it
take the loss of a child, spouse or neighbor to convince each and
every one of us that impaired driving is a scourge that maims and
kills thousands every month?
The threat to our families is great. Impaired driving is one of the
most frequently committed violent crimes in America. Every 30 minutes,
someone dies in an alcohol-related crash. But there is something
we can all do about this. With high-visibility enforcement crackdowns,
we make it clear that impaired driving is a serious and violent crime.
With support from the media, emphasizing the You
Drink & Drive.
You Lose. message, we can convince impaired drivers: if you drink
and drive irresponsibly, you will be caught.
This is a call to action for the citizens of [metropolitan
area, city or state]. Law enforcement agencies across [your
county] and
the country will be out in force this Labor Day to deter impaired
driving, but they need your help. You can help deter this crime by
reminding family and friends to drive safely and to always buckle
up. Plan ahead if you will be drinking. Use a designated sober driver
or take a taxi. With your help, fewer Americans will face tragedy
during the holidays - or at any other time of year.
For more information about impaired driving, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org
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