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December 2, 2005
(937) 374-5660 or toll-free at 1(866) 858-3588
Greene County
Combined Health District and the Greene County Safe Communities Coalition
A Safe Communities Grantee of the Ohio Department of
Public Safety
December Holidays
Should be Fun, Not Deadly
Xenia, Ohio–December is traditionally one of the
deadliest times for impaired driving. The entire month is National Drunk and
Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month dedicated to keeping the impaired driver
off the road. Ohio law enforcement will join together to enforce the OVI laws
during this high-risk period when there is a sharp increase in drinking and
driving over the holidays. The National Commission Against Drunk Driving reports
that someone dies in an alcohol-related traffic crash every 30 minutes. We need
to keep reminding drivers that impaired driving kills.
In Ohio in 2004, during the month of December through
January 3, there were 34 fatal crashes with 39 deaths. Eight of those were
known to be alcohol related with an additional 12 suspected to be alcohol or
drug related. National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month was
established by congressional legislation and presidential proclamation in
December 1982 because the month of December through New Year's is typically one
of the higher risk times for impaired driving. While alcohol-related traffic
deaths nationally were cut by two-thirds from 1981 to 1994, DUI deaths leveled
off for several years until they started to climb again in 2000.
This holiday season remember to drive responsibly. Chose a
designated driver if alcohol is on the menu and remember to buckle up. Don’t
become one of the Ohio statistics for this year.
The “Safe Communities” program was developed through the
Ohio Department of Public Safety to establish and/or expand community
partnerships to create safer, healthier communities throughout Ohio.
Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health
services and health information in Greene County for over 70 years.
Healthy
People…Healthy Communities | 
