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St. Cloud State University
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Commentary
Safe and sober brings awareness
Published:
Monday, October 13, 2003
Every 30 minutes, someone is killed in an alcohol-related accident, and alcohol-related injuries occur every two minutes.
These are frightening facts and the St. Cloud Police Department has taken steps to combat the problem. Police officers scanned the city for destructive behavior as they implemented a safe and sober campaign last weekend, the first of 12 campaigns to encourage safe driving.
There have been a variety of student reactions to the weekend, but several factors remain - no one can disagree that drunk driving is an irresponsible decision and no one can argue that the department's steps toward promoting safety are steps in the right direction.
University Chronicle applauds these efforts, but the state of Minnesota has some work to do.
We are sure that many students and citizens are not aware that Minnesota is losing money every year due to a decision to remain at a legal limit of .10 blood alcohol content (BAC). Federal legislation states that failure to comply with the Fiscal Year 2001 Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act will result in a loss of 2 percent of certain federal highway funds. The act enforces a .08 BAC, a distinction that drastically reduces the amount of alcohol-related injuries and deaths. The Centers for Disease Control's research says that an average 7 percent reduction of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurs in states that have adopted the .08 BAC legal limit.
According to the MADD Web site, Minnesota taxpayers have already lost incentive dollars totaling $14,648,583 under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. If Minnesota's law stays the same, the losses will continue.
The most recent data project that, nationwide, costs to the public because of these accidents is an estimated $114.3 billion. Minnesota's portion includes a shocking $3.6 million per fatality and $106,000 per injury.
The cost inflicted upon the state is damaging enough, but the fatalities are obviously the most detrimental. In 2002, 17,419 people across the nation were killed in alcohol-related fatalities.
These figures are alarming and necessitate immediate action.
Next time you or someone you know slides into the driver's seat intoxicated, remember these numbers; think about the effect that you could have on another person and yourself. And if that is not enough to make you think twice, Minnesota has on-the-spot driver's license suspension or revocation if your BAC is over the legal limit.
Don't become another statistic; encourage state legislators to decrease the BAC to .08 and have a safe and sober driving weekend every weekend.
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