The National Safety Commission Alerts
Safety is No Accident
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk This St. Patrick's Day
Don't Depend on Dumb Luck—Designate a Sober Driver Before the Party Begins
March is the month to don some green, pull out the shamrocks, and look for the pot of gold. St. Patrick's Day is approaching, spring is arriving and every one is ready to celebrate and enjoy good cheer. For many St. Patrick's Day has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the large number of drunk drivers, the night out has also become very dangerous.
On St. Patrick's Day 2008, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Whether you are meeting a few friends at the local pub after work or attending parade, if you plan on using alcohol, never drive while impaired-and never let your friends drive if you think they are impaired".
Additional NHTSA statistics show that in 2008, there were 134 crash fatalities on St. Patrick's Day. Out of that number, 50 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.
For a safe St. Patrick's Day take the following steps:
- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
- Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;
- If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
- Use your community's Sober Rides program
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
- And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk, not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant. Don't depend on dumb luck this St. Patrick's Day. Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.
*- ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS DEFINED AS 6PM MARCH 16 TO 5:59AM MARCH 18
Labels: blood alcohol level, buzzed driving, drunk driving, dui, underage alcohol use, underage drinking
Monday, May 11, 2009
National Crime Victims' Rights Week Sponsored by MADD
Office for Victims of Crime Celebrates 25th Anniversary
In 1984, the Victims of Crime Act established The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) by the Victims of Crime Act to manage the myriad of programs that serve crime victims. OVC provides sizeable funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs. OVC also helps raise awareness to victim issues by promoting its National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Get More Information
The 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide helps raise community awareness of crime victim issues. The guide features statistics, event ideas, and custom-ready posters, including a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme poster. The guide can be ordered, in either hardcopy or electronic formats, along with the theme posters, from OVC.
Also available on the OVC Web site is curriculum about the effects of victimization. There you can also find downloadable information to create a model for corrections-based victim service providers.
Be a Part of It
Through its Tree of Life project, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) offers victim/survivors a chance to celebrate the lives of their loved ones killed or injured in a drunk driving crash all year long. By raising $2,500 through your tribute page, you’ll add a leaf to MADD’s Tree of Life.
Help Is Available
If a drunk driving accident has victimized you or a loved one, MADD can help with:
• Bereavement support
• Injury support
• Justice advocacy
• Guidance for financial recovery
MADD’s Victim/Survivor Helpline, 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435), has trained victim advocates available who can answer your questions, help you cope with what you are experiencing, or just lend a sympathetic ear.
Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.
In 1984, the Victims of Crime Act established The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) by the Victims of Crime Act to manage the myriad of programs that serve crime victims. OVC provides sizeable funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs. OVC also helps raise awareness to victim issues by promoting its National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Get More Information
The 2009 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide helps raise community awareness of crime victim issues. The guide features statistics, event ideas, and custom-ready posters, including a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme poster. The guide can be ordered, in either hardcopy or electronic formats, along with the theme posters, from OVC.
Also available on the OVC Web site is curriculum about the effects of victimization. There you can also find downloadable information to create a model for corrections-based victim service providers.
Be a Part of It
Through its Tree of Life project, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) offers victim/survivors a chance to celebrate the lives of their loved ones killed or injured in a drunk driving crash all year long. By raising $2,500 through your tribute page, you’ll add a leaf to MADD’s Tree of Life.
Help Is Available
If a drunk driving accident has victimized you or a loved one, MADD can help with:
• Bereavement support
• Injury support
• Justice advocacy
• Guidance for financial recovery
MADD’s Victim/Survivor Helpline, 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435), has trained victim advocates available who can answer your questions, help you cope with what you are experiencing, or just lend a sympathetic ear.
Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.
Labels: dui, impaired driving
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Getting A DUI From Over-The-Counter or Prescription Drugs
Most everyone knows that you can be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) when driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal controlled substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines however it is less well known that use of common over-the-counter and prescription medications could also result in a DUI. In the midst of flu season and with hay fever season just around the corner it is good time to remind drivers that commonly prescribed or over-the-counter medications can have just as great an impact on your driving abilities as alcohol. Driving under the influence means just that; any drug, legal or illegal, that causes side effects such as dizziness, incoherence, drowsiness, and loss of muscle coordination, can impair your driving to the point that you could possibly be charged with DUI.
Since the officer on the scene can't possibly test for every type of drug, the officer’s basic responsibility is to determine whether or not the driver has the physical capabilities to safely control a motor vehicle. If, in the opinion of the officer, the driver is impaired for whatever reason, the officer will make an arrest for DUI and let the courts sort out the details later on. The impact on the driver can be disastrous.
It isn't possible to list all the drugs in one article but a list of some of the most commonly used drugs and their side effects may alert you to the dangers involved.
Cold/allergy medications – Side effects of cold and allergy medications such as Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, and Dimetapp can cause:
Drowsiness
Inability to concentrate
Disturbed coordination
Increased anxiety
Dizziness
These medications should only be taken at night or when you know you will not be driving. Even medications that are advertised as non-drowsy formulas such as Claritin can, in rare instances, cause dizziness and vertigo.
Pain medications – Side effects of common pain medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Tylenol) and Naproxen (Aleve) can include:
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Tranquilizers/Sedatives/Anti-depressants – Even though prescribed, these drugs present a danger to drivers who use them. 10 mg. of Valium causes effects that are roughly equal to a blood alcohol content of 0.10 (0.08 is legally drunk in all states). The popular sleep medication Ambien has caused users to drive and perform other tasks with no memory of those actions after the effects of the drug have worn off.
Other Drugs - Medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and ulcers can also cause drowsiness and dizziness in some instances.
All of these drugs serve a legitimate medical purpose and, in most instances, have little adverse effect on the user but, even though a drug has not had an adverse effect in the past, the severity of a condition and other factors may combine to cause a severe impact on a driver. Medications combined with even a small amount of alcohol can have a dramatic effect. When taking a new medication, ask your doctor to explain the side effects and wait until you know how the drug will affect you before you attempt to drive.
Since the officer on the scene can't possibly test for every type of drug, the officer’s basic responsibility is to determine whether or not the driver has the physical capabilities to safely control a motor vehicle. If, in the opinion of the officer, the driver is impaired for whatever reason, the officer will make an arrest for DUI and let the courts sort out the details later on. The impact on the driver can be disastrous.
It isn't possible to list all the drugs in one article but a list of some of the most commonly used drugs and their side effects may alert you to the dangers involved.
Cold/allergy medications – Side effects of cold and allergy medications such as Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, and Dimetapp can cause:
These medications should only be taken at night or when you know you will not be driving. Even medications that are advertised as non-drowsy formulas such as Claritin can, in rare instances, cause dizziness and vertigo.
Pain medications – Side effects of common pain medications such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Tylenol) and Naproxen (Aleve) can include:
Tranquilizers/Sedatives/Anti-depressants – Even though prescribed, these drugs present a danger to drivers who use them. 10 mg. of Valium causes effects that are roughly equal to a blood alcohol content of 0.10 (0.08 is legally drunk in all states). The popular sleep medication Ambien has caused users to drive and perform other tasks with no memory of those actions after the effects of the drug have worn off.
Other Drugs - Medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and ulcers can also cause drowsiness and dizziness in some instances.
All of these drugs serve a legitimate medical purpose and, in most instances, have little adverse effect on the user but, even though a drug has not had an adverse effect in the past, the severity of a condition and other factors may combine to cause a severe impact on a driver. Medications combined with even a small amount of alcohol can have a dramatic effect. When taking a new medication, ask your doctor to explain the side effects and wait until you know how the drug will affect you before you attempt to drive.
Labels: driving safety, dui, prescription medication
