Drive sober for a happy holiday season

Many of us have heard the heart-wrenching stories of loved ones killed either as a result of driving while impaired or as a victim of being hit by an impaired driver.

Like any vehicle accident, it is a tragic and sobering experience. Unlike other accidents, however, those caused by a driver impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs and even prescription drugs are all the more tragic in that they could have been prevented.

In 2013, police statewide arrested 7,444 drivers for operating a vehicle under the influence of an Intoxicant (OVUII), whether it was alcohol- and/or drug-related.

This is an unacceptable number, indicating the large number of drivers on our roadways who are a danger to themselves, their families, their friends and other innocent people.

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Obviously, the celebrations over the holidays lead to an increased number of occasions to consume alcohol.

In Hawaii, nearly half of traffic fatalities are alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Nationally, 1 in 3 traffic fatalities is an alcohol-impaired driving crash; thus, our Hawaii record is alarming.

During this holiday season, our Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) has partnered with the Hawaii Chapter of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild to promote responsible celebrating. We are pleased to know that the mission of the guild is to foster responsible consumption and driving. Guild President Dave Newman has organized four popular local establishments to launch a "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" awareness campaign by using drink coasters with this slogan on New Year’s Eve.

The bright red, white and blue coasters will be supplied as part of a grant for public awareness from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

On the national level, NHTSA has introduced a new tool, the SaferRide app, to help keep drunken drivers off our roads. The app allows users to call a taxi or a friend and to identify their location so they can be picked up. It’s available for Android devices on Google Play and for Apple devices on the iTunes store.

We mustn’t forget about other types of impaired driving. Driving while on drugs is a growing concern. And this is not just about illegal drugs; it is about the use of prescription drugs that can affect you while driving. It is well known that certain medications may cause drowsiness or have side effects when combined with other drugs, including alcohol, but what people may not realize is that driving while medicated may lead to a DUI if the person is impaired.

To combat this increasing danger of drugged driving and to keep Hawaii’s roadways safer, the DOT has expanded a program that trains law enforcement officers to become drug recognition experts (DRE). These DREs are trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol. DREs are in law enforcement agencies across the state, including the counties’ police departments and the Sheriff Division, and they will be actively deployed this holiday season.

Please join all of our traffic partners in keeping our roadways safe so that everyone can make it home to their loved ones. All too often, a poor choice means the difference between life and death. As the majority of motor vehicle crashes are preventable, we can make a difference if we all make better decisions.

Help keep our highways safe for your ohana and for everyone by driving sober, and enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.