December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month

December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The annual awareness campaign, designated in 2012 by President Barack Obama, invites families, educators, health care providers, and community leaders to promote responsible decision-making and encourage young people to live free of drugs and alcohol.

Impaired driving is illegal and dangerous. Impaired driving accounts for nearly one third of all traffic accident related fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA). With the increase in travel and families and friends gathering for holiday celebrations, Between December 17 and and January 1, the NTSA is working with law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to enforce impaired driving laws and keep our roadways safe. Learn more.

Healthy Acadia’s substance use prevention team urges community members to take personal responsibility this holiday season by making a plan for a safe ride home before your celebrations begin.

• Designate a non-drinking, unimpaired driver.

• Have a plan to call a friend, family member; or use a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft.

• If you’re hosting a gathering or event where alcohol may be consumed, provide beverage alternatives to your guests. A quick online search can provide many festive, non-alcoholic drink options, including easy D-I-Y recipes.

• Provide snacks, water, and entertainment or activities that don’t involve alcohol.

• If you have the space, encourage guests who plan to consume alcohol to spend the night.

• Remember it is illegal to consume alcoholic beverages if you are under age 21. It’s also against the law to provide alcohol -or to knowingly allow underage drinking in your home or on your property - to anyone under age 21. Those who do may be fined and/or charged with a crime.

Please help keep our roads and our communities safe this holiday season.