AUSTIN This holiday season, Texas Department of Transportation wants to remind Texans to always find a sober ride.
Throughout December, TxDOT’s “Drive Sober. No Regrets.” campaign will host events across the state featuring video testimonials of Texans who deal with the daily consequences of drunk driving, either as an offender or survivor. These powerful stories and drunk driving facts can be found at SoberRides.org.
“It is our hope that these moving, firsthand accounts will encourage all of us to make the right choice and not ever drive after drinking or doing anything that can alter our judgment,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams stated in a press release. “We don’t want to turn a happy time of year into one that could be marked by tragic loss caused by someone’s poor decision to drink and drive.”
There were 2,462 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes in Texas during the holiday season of Dec. 1, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, the TxDOT press release details. Those crashes killed 93 people and seriously injured another 215. In the 12-county Odessa District, there were 54 DUI-alcohol related crashes resulting in one death in the same time frame.
Drinking and driving is 100% preventable and can have serious physical, emotional and financial consequences that can last for years, the press release stated. A DWI can hurt or kill someone, devastating the lives of victims and survivors forever. It can also cause significant and expensive legal issues, create difficulty finding or keeping a job and bring a lifetime of regret.
There are many sober ride options available. Designate a sober driver, call a taxi, use a rideshare service, stay put, call a friend or family member, or use mass transit to ensure a person doesn’t drive impaired.
