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      July 2003 Crackdown

Physician-Nurse Op Ed

For many people Labor Day is a last chance at summer fun and relaxation. But for medical professionals who treat crash victims during the holiday because of the increase in impaired driving, it is a weekend full of pain and injury. In 2002, 55% of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes during the Labor day weekend were alcohol-related. As medical professionals with [group, hospital, or association] we know that the start of autumn will be brought to an abrupt halt for hundreds of Americans whose lives are touched by tragedy because of drunk driving.

For more than two decades, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has been focusing on deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving - especially those
incurred during high-risk periods such as the Labor Day holiday.

Last year, NHTSA reports that more than 43,000 Americans were killed and another three million injured in motor vehicle crashes - many during the holiday season. More than 17,000 of those deaths came from alcohol-related crashes. Furthermore, nearly 12,000 of these deaths occurred in crashes that involved at least one person with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent, the legal driving limit in every state in the country. Another area of growing concern is the increasing number of fatalities of motorcyclists in alcohol-related crashes. Impaired driving is one of the most frequently committed violent crimes in America. Every 30 minutes someone dies in an alcohol-related crash.

Through the years, the nation has been looking at new approaches to reduce impaired driving and its devastating effects on innocent motorists and passengers. Though we have made tremendous progress in a number of areas, many drivers still don’t get the message: You Drink & Drive. You Lose.

What will it take for Americans to understand the dangers of driving while impaired? When will we wake up and stop the carnage on our roads and highways? Are you convinced? Will it take the loss of your child, spouse or neighbor to convince you that impaired driving is a scourge that maims and kills thousands in our country every month?

We are all part of the solution. This is a call to action for all the citizens of [name of metropolitan area, city or state], and your support is urgently needed. As [nurses / doctors], we have seen the tragedy firsthand and we’ll be reminding our patients to drive safely. We ask you to remind others to drive only when sober, or if you are drinking designate a sober driver and to always buckle up. With all of our help, we can get America moving in the right direction again.

To learn more about how you can visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org