Dear Student Leader,

Graduations are major events. They're also events that often bring together the dangerous combination of alcohol and driving.

Every spring, local papers across the country carry tragic stories about local graduation parties that end in death. As a prosecutor, I can assure you that there is no greater tragedy I face than dealing with the aftermath of these tragedies and the toll it takes on families, friends and the community. I often hear parents and friends ask how this could happen. Unfortunately, it happens all too often and, it only takes one wrong decision.

All your life you've been told to learn from your mistakes. But when it comes to underage drinking and impaired driving, many times there are no second chances. That is why I'm asking you to help us and [Insert names of any other participating organizations] work together to help your friends learn from these tragic mistakes and help them make the right choice during spring break, prom and graduation celebrations to not drink and never drive impaired.

Young people are at much higher risk from impaired driving than the general population.

Although many people still think drinking is a rite of passage, drinking often keeps teenagers from ever reaching adulthood. Last year, approximately 2,000 young people, ages 15-20, died in alcohol-related crashes. During a typical weekend, an average of one teenager dies each hour in a car crash. And many died from alcohol overdoses, a number of them were put to bed by friends "to sleep it off," only to never wake up.

You can help us convey these vital messages:

• Deaths from alcohol-related crashes are predictable and preventable - they are not accidents.
• Impaired driving is a choice - and a crime.

Please join in the campaign and ensure the safety of your peers during this special time. [Insert here your proposed event.] Your school may be one of many that have already started planning and conducting zero tolerance activities. Many schools have clubs, such as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) or peer helpers, that make it their mission to help fight the problem of underage drinking and impaired driving. If your school already has such a club, there's no better time to get involved.

If zero tolerance activities are new to your school or neighborhood, you can receive a
campaign activity kit from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The kit provides ideas and ready-to-use tools to assist you in planning your activities. It was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). Please call me [phone] and I will provide ordering information.

The campaign is a great opportunity to prevent our community from experiencing the tragedy and pain resulting from impaired driving crashes. Remember that, all too many times there are no second chances when it comes to underage drinking and impaired driving. Please join us as we all work together to ensure a safe and joyous end of school year.

[Insert sentence about what contact information.]

Sincerely,

[name, title]