Public Meeting About Dangers of Drinking and Driving

A public awareness event about the dangers of drugged, drunk and impaired driving will be held Monday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington.

Father Finbarr Dowling, St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, is helping to organize the event with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Father Dowling described the meeting, which will be open to the public, as an exchange of information among concerned parents.

“We hope to encourage parents who are trying hard to keep kids safe,” Father Dowling said. “We want to keep the emphasis on how parents are discouraging their kids from drinking and driving.”

Meghan Carter, executive director of the gateway affiliate of MADD, will speak at the event. The St. Louis chapter covers nine counties in the region, including Franklin County.

“My presentation will give people an overview of what we (MADD) do in the St. Louis area, how to get involved and to reach out to victims,” Carter said.

Carter will invite those who have been affected by drunk driving to share their personal stories about the “victimization that they’ve experienced and what MADD has done for them.”

Washington police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Department deputies also have been invited to speak.

Accident Statistics

According to the Statistical Analysis Center of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in 14.8 percent of fatal crashes involving drivers under the age of 21, the driver’s drinking condition contributed to the cause of the crash.

In 2010, there were 18 drivers between the ages of 15-20 who were killed in accidents involving alcohol statewide.

There were 319 personal injuries reported from accidents involving alcohol in that same age group in Missouri last year.

According to the patrol, there were 138 crashes involving drinking, in Franklin County last year. Of those 15 involved drivers under the age of 21.

Franklin County ranked eighth among all of the counties for the highest number of crashes involving drinking and drivers under 21.

In Warren County, the patrol reported 33 crashes involving drinking and two of those involved drivers under the age of 21.

In Washington, Lt. Mike Stapp said there have been no alcohol- or drug-related-accidents involving drivers under 21 and alcohol so far this year.

In 2010, there were three alcohol- or drug-related crashes where the drivers were under the age 21 and in 2009, there were four.

SOURCE

----

Business owners and entrepreneurs who own any social venue and who are looking to start a cash business can now do there part in the prevention of Drunk Driving. Please visit alcobuddy.com. World's premiere Breathalyzer Vending Machine for more information.