Well, it’s that time of year again, we’ve finished the Nation’s 7th birthday celebration (in dog year’s… 49). I think we’re getting a little older because we didn’t announce it to any fanfare. Tis the season for celebrating and don’t we know it, but let’s try to play it safe. Please remind your friends and relatives to never drink and drive. The opportunities for problems are limitless and you endanger more than yourself if you do.
I know that young people are extremely more susceptible to peer pressure to engage in risky driving behaviors. It is that risk-taking and sensation-seeking that may lead them to drink and drive. I think we all know that some of this is peer related behavior. But while your peers can increase the risks of young drivers, they can also play an important role in lessoning those risks.
People are aware of the designated driver idea. Adults use it and young people should use it also. Having someone who isn’t drinking can help out in situations other than driving if there are problems. Usually the designated driver is an informal arrangement, where the group chooses someone, or has him or her volunteer. A lot of areas like this solution because it’s easy to do, everyone likes it and it reinforces behavior against drinking and driving. Some new groups have been created and this is something that could be done locally. “Students Against Driving Drunk” (SADD), Teens Against Drunk Driving (TADD) and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID) have been in existence and are active in high schools and in the community, making people aware of the problem and encouraging other teens not to drive after drinking. It’s good to see teens helping other teens in this fashion. If there are groups out there. I would be interested in hearing from you.
In recent years, there has been a growing sense that parents can play an important role in the education/training of their teenage drivers. They are also seen as a potential source of intervention in the drinking and driving by teens and there has been a move toward developing appropriate materials and tactics. Perhaps the best-known “tool” in this area is the so-called “Contract for Life.” This is a formal agreement signed by parents and teens whereby the teen agrees to call for a ride if they or their friends have been drinking and don’t have a safe way home. The parent also agrees to provide a ride regardless of where or when – no questions asked, at least until the next day. This certainly makes sense.
Parents, the police and concerned citizens can also play a role in controlling opportunities for youth to drink and drive in their community. This could involve implementing procedures to discourage or prevent “bush” parties and providing alternatives to drinking in social situations and events involving teens.
Now I don’t want people to think that I am just targeting the youth. It’s true that they are at the highest risk but, I wish to add that all I have said can apply to people of all ages.
I would like to see a wife and husband “Contract for Life.”
An “Operation Red Nose” program in the communities, where sober people would volunteer their time to drive home people who celebrated too much, would be beneficial to all as well as the nicest Christmas gift a volunteer could give a community.
It’s a great time of year during the holiday season. Be with your families and drive carefully no matter what.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all from us here at the Nation.
