By Lauren Gallegos
Tis the season to be jolly and enjoy all of those holiday parties. It truly is a magical time of year with celebrations and time spent with family and friends. But for some it can be a tragic time of year. Holiday parties are often flowing with alcohol, leading to a sharp increase in incidences of driving under the influence between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in 2018, 1,068 people were killed in drunk driving crashes across the nation during the holiday season. Last year, San Clemente High School student Adrina Daniels experienced a drunk driving tragedy. This holiday season she has chosen to speak about what her family is experiencing. Her story is below:
November 18th, 2018, 11:42 PM, the exact moment the world lost another mother. I was asleep when it happened. When I woke up, the very last thought I could have had in mind was that my mom had passed. I trudged drowsily down the stairs, ready for 7:00 AM water polo practice, already feeling the emotional strain coming from the people who were downstairs. People? Downstairs? My dad told me to sit down and he explained to me that my mom had died in a car accident overnight. She was hit by a senseless man driving under the influence of alcohol, and the worst part was that it could have been prevented.
In honor of my mom’s passing, I started the campaign, “The Cost of Influence”, with the hope that I can help prevent deaths caused by driving under the influence. My senior year, I am making my club that supports this campaign a top priority, and I am determined to educate my community and school about the detrimental effects of driving under the influence. I am aware that some people might disregard what I am saying, and will still make the decision to drive drunk, but I am here to tell you that it’s not right, and it’s not okay. Driving under the influence can cost people their lives, and ruin families in a second. I know that my story may not affect everyone, but if it changes the life of at least one person I can say that I have done my job, because one person, is one individual choosing to never again drive under the influence, and for me that is enough.
Adrina’s story is unfortunately one of many. In the state of California there are 1,059 deaths due to driving under the influence each year – that is 2.97 deaths per day. Across the nation an alcohol impaired driving fatality occurs every 52 minutes (NHTSA 2014). This is not a new problem and no community is immune to it.
In 1986 Mothers Against Drunk Driving began the Tie One On For Safety public awareness project to remind everyone that drinking and driving don’t mix. “Tie one on” which is slang for having a drink, is used as a play on words for the campaign that displays red ribbons on car door handles to remind others to not drink and drive. Each year San Clemente High School students participate in the campaign and tie red ribbons on staff and students’ cars to remind everyone that safe driving is a choice that should be made before the celebration begins.
Adrina’s club along with the Wellness & Prevention Youth Coalition will host an event this spring to educate youth on the risks of underage drinking and getting in the car with someone who has been drinking. But she wants adults to know that there are many alternatives to driving after those cheerful holiday parties, a decision that can save a life.
Party hosts can offer festive mocktails with tasty ingredients such as pomegranate, ginger and soda water. Party goers can designate a driver or use ride shares such as Lyft or Uber. Keep in mind that while you might choose to not drink and drive, others still do, be aware while driving and if possible avoid driving after midnight when the risk for an accident increases.
The Wellness & Prevention Center wishes everyone a safe a happy holiday season and thank Adrina Daniel for sharing her story and contributing to this article.
Lauren Gallegos is the WPC Community Prevention Director, and leads the Wellness & Prevention Coalition in San Clemente as well as the Youth Wellness & Prevention Coalition. You can reach her at lauren@www.wpc-oc.org