The consequences of driving while under the influence affects friends, family

By Officer Martin Gutierrez
Officer Martin Gutierrez
Officer Martin Gutierrez

I have been a member of the Lemoore Police Department since February of 2015. While I was born in Hanford, I have been a resident of Lemoore my entire life. I graduated from Kings Christian High School in Lemoore with the Class of 2010. I received my Associate’s Degree from West Hills College in Lemoore in May 2014.

I take pride in being from Lemoore and I feel honored to be able to serve and protect my community. It is a blessing to be able to give back to the community that has given so much to me. This article is intended to provide information about the impacts of drunk driving and its effects on the community.

At the end of every alcoholic beverage commercial, viewers are urged not to drink and drive.  There are multiple commercials from law enforcement telling people they will get caught for drinking and driving. There are numerous campaigns on social media that encourage people not to drink and drive, yet thousands of people are still getting arrested and prosecuted for driving under the influence.

According to statistics, over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. Many times the people arrested for drinking and driving are our youth.

According to the National Highway Traffic Study Administration, in fatal crashes in 2011, the highest percentage of drunk drivers were drivers ages 21 to 24 (32 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (24 percent).

People know the risks of impaired driving and they know they are putting not only their own lives at risk but also the lives of others, yet they continue to make the dangerous decision to drive while impaired. In 2012, 29.1 million people admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol, more than the population of Texas.

Impaired driving does not just affect the individual who is driving impaired.  Impaired driving affects the community. The whole community mourns if someone dies following a fatal drunk driving accident. We all feel the impact of a loss in our community, not just the immediate family.

Lemoore is a very close community, so chances are if someone is involved in a fatal drunk driving accident you will either know the victim or the person who caused the accident. On average, two in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2014).

Impaired driving is not just irresponsible for the driver, but it is costly for the departments. Impaired driving costs the United States $199 billion a year. That is much more expensive then calling a taxi after you have had a few drinks. Calling a cab is much cheaper than hiring a lawyer to fight your DUI charges.

These statistics are alarming, and as I mentioned before, this is not just the Lemoore Police Department’s problem; this is a community problem. So what can you do to help prevent drinking and driving? Madd.org (2015) has provided some great tips to help prevent someone from driving drunk.

The best way to prevent someone from driving drunk is to make a plan for a sober designated driver, and make sure everyone agrees to it ahead of time. If you are faced with a situation where someone who’s impaired is trying to drive, here are some tips on how to stop them:

  • Be as non-confrontational as possible.

    • Suggest alternate ways of getting to their destination — a cab, a sober driver, public transportation.
    • Remember that the person you are talking to is impaired — talk a bit more slowly and explain things more fully than if you were speaking to a sober person.
    • Explain that you don’t want them to drive because you care and you don’t want them to hurt themselves or others.
  • Suggest that they sleep over.

    • Enlist a friend to help you or to act as moral support — it’s more difficult to say “no” to two (or three or four) people than one.
    • If possible, get the person’s keys. It is far easier to persuade the potential driver when you hold this leverage.
    • If all else fails, call law enforcement. It’s better to have a friend arrested than injured or killed.”

 If anyone has any information or comments about this article, do not hesitate to contact me or another Lemoore Police Department officer. I can be reached by the following:

  • Lemoore PD – 559-924-9574

  • After Hours – 559-924-5333

  • Phone (Voicemail) – 924-6779

    • Email – martin.gutierrez@lemoorepd.com

 

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