Don’t drink and drive

by Jordan Redman
Staff Writer

June is Pride month. There’s lots of fun to be had, but that fun can be had safely, right? Enjoy yourself, drink responsibly, most importantly, don’t drink and drive.

According to the CDC, here are the stats for the number of deaths involving a drunk driver in The Gayly’s region in 2017.

  • Oklahoma: 2,205
  • Arkansas: 1,769
  • Kansas: 1,214
  • Missouri: 3,314
  • Texas: 13,138

Keeping in mind the mere size difference between Texas and the rest of these states, don’t let the high number shock you.

In Oklahoma, deaths in adults ranging from the ages of 21-34 surpassed the national average by almost 4 percent. As did Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. Kansas was below the national average by .7 percent.

In every single state in The Gayly’s region, males surpassed females in deaths.

The CDC reports every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. That is one death every 50 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion.

Fast facts on drunk driving:

  • Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher (i.e., drunk drivers) are considered alcohol-impaired by law.
  • About one in three traffic deaths in the United States involve a drunk driver.

If you are going to drink at Pride, make sure you have a designated driver or call a ride-sharing service.

Remember to pace yourself and drink plenty of water in-between alcoholic beverages.

It’s important to note what counts as “one drink.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers “a standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which contain the same amount of alcohol.”

Pride is a time to celebrate but do so responsibly. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety.

Copyright The Gayly – June 3, 2018 @ 1:25 p.m. CDT.