Drunken driving ruins lives; more can be done

Gina Hollingshead, Social Work BS

Within three years, two people near and dear to my heart have lost a relative at the hands of a drunken driver in two separate crashes near Whitewater. The sad reality of drunken driving is that whenever someone dies, a multitude of people is affected by
the loss.

One of the victims was a passionate six-year-old boy who was just beginning his life and had his future and dreams ahead of him. The other was a nurturing mother of two, a caring sister, and a trustworthy friend. Those are two people that I knew, but studies done by Mothers Against Destructive Decisions show that two out of every three people will be involved in a drunken driving crash during
their lifetime.

We go to school in Wisconsin, the state of the Packers, cheese and beer. We are also the only state in the country that doesn’t charge first time drunken drivers with a crime but rather only a traffic ticket
gets issued.

The abundance of drunken drivers on our roads goes unnoticed to many and the seriousness of this offense is belittled.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, just two years ago more than 24,000 individuals were convicted of drunken driving; that averages out to almost 66 individuals per day. Take a moment and try to imagine how many aren’t included in that number because they weren’t caught…

So, what can you do to make a difference and lower the drunk driving offenses, deaths and injuries?  You can start by downloading the “Zero in Wisconsin Drive Sober” mobile app.  This app offers many useful tools. Some of those tools include a blood alcohol level calculator, the ability to report a drunk driver to 9-1-1, offers a designated driver selector if you and your friends can’t decide, and you can also find a ride by the click of a button.

Other simple ways you can help create change are by making sure you always have a designated driver, not letting your friends drink and drive, and taking advantage of the taxi system in Whitewater.

If you suspect a drunk driver please contact your local police department or call
9-1-1 immediately.

Taking these small steps towards safer Wisconsin roads could not only save your life, it could save those around you that are also loved by many.