FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- As Soldiers and Families prepare for holiday festivities, Fort Campbell's Army Substance Abuse Program wants everyone to remember that danger is just as prevalent as cheer. December is National Drunk, Drugged and Distracted Driving Prevention Month.
"Before it was 3D and it was just focused on the drunk and drugged driving," said Wenona Ealy, ASAP specialist. "But this year they're putting an emphasis on distracted driving because that's becoming a problem as well."
Ealy said a lot more people seem to be driving distracted, especially young adults between the ages of 18-24.
"Every day you're driving and you're seeing more people swerving across the lines and they're on their cellphones. Or they're going a little below the speed limit, or a lot below the speed limit, and everybody's just on their cellphones," she said.
ASAP is hosting the 4D month to bring awareness not only to Soldiers, but to Family members and civilians, especially the teenager drivers in the community.
"Even just picking up your phone, you take your eyes away from the road for at least five seconds, that can cause a major accident," Ealy said.
Although most people consider distracted driving synonymous with texting and driving, Ealy said the term covers any behavior that takes the driver's eyes off the road, including applying makeup and eating.
To help combat that, Fort Campbell's ASAP will increase alcohol, drug and distracted driving training throughout the month for Soldiers. Civilians who would like to arrange training should contact John Bergman, Employee Assistance Program, at 270-798-5253.
"This is when everyone is out partying or having get together is to celebrate the holidays. A lot of the times, the host of the party doesn't think about the consequences of people coming to the parties," Ealy said. "Or you're going home to visit Family and you're not concentrating on how much you're drinking and then you turn around and get in the car." Between Thanksgiving and New Year's is when Fort Campbell and the surrounding communities have the most driving under the influence arrests of the year, Ealy said.
To avoid becoming a statistic, Ealy suggests selecting a designated driver before going to any party, preferably someone who does not drink rather than someone who agrees to abstain. She also suggests selecting someone who is not going to the party.
"If you are drinking and you're drunk, you can't pay attention to if your designated driver is drinking as well," she said. "At the end of the night, you've got a few friends trying to figure out who's the least drunk."
Party hosts also should pay attention to their guests, even going so far as to take away keys if their guests are too impaired to drive home, Ealy said.
"The host can be liable for anyone who leaves their house impaired," Ealy said.
She suggests hosts provide nonalcoholic alternatives for guests who do not wish to drink so they will feel less pressured into drinking.
For anyone who is going to drink at a party, Ealy suggests waiting an hour for each drink consumed before driving. So for three drinks, a driver should wait three hours after finishing the last drink.
To encourage drivers not to drive drunk, Tennessee AAA will offer its Tow To Go service Dec. 22-25 and Dec. 31-Jan 2 to anyone in Tennessee who calls 885-286-9246. AAA will pick up both the driver and the car and deliver them to any residence in Tennessee.
Clarksville Transit System also will offer Operation Safe Ride 11 p.m.-3 a.m. on New Year's Eve. Anyone within the Clarksville city limits can call 931-553-2429 for a free ride home.
"You just need to call and they'll pick you up," Ealy said.
Neither organization will bring Soldiers on post, but riders will instead be dropped at Freeman Gate then Fort Campbell Directorate of Emergency Services officials will escort them to their residence.
"We just want to make sure everybody has a safe and happy holidays," Ealy said.
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