As Fort Knox residents and employees prepare for the winter holiday season, the folks at Army Substance Abuse Program are asking them to keep the season joyous by not drinking and driving.
Army Substance Abuse Specialist Dr. Debra Kirksey said the holiday season has a higher than average accident rate. Because of this, she and others are getting the message out to act responsibly during National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, also known as 3D Month.
This year's theme is "Be realistic, don't be a statistic."
"Although people drive impaired throughout the year, the months of December and January are when we have a tendency to celebrate a lot, so the campaign helps to educate drivers about the risks and consequences of driving while impaired," said Kirksey. "We want to encourage the community to avoid getting behind the wheel while impaired, and prevent others driving while impaired."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that each day 29 people in the United States die in alcohol-impaired crashes. These crashes equal out to over 10,000 lives per year and according to the most recent statistics from 2010, deaths and damages from drinking drunk led to a loss of $44 billion that year.
According to a 2014 Centers for Disease Control report, 2,041 people were killed in crashes involving drunk drivers in Kentucky from 2003 to 2012. In the state, drivers are considered over the limit with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. From 2013 to 2015, among the fatal Kentucky traffic accidents that occurred, 167 involved a legally drunk driver or motorcycle rider.
Kirksey said while 1 in 17 licensed drivers in Kentucky have been caught impaired while driving, Fort Knox has actually fared much better historically.
"We are happy to say that alcohol offenses on Fort Knox have declined since this time last year," Kirksey said. "We are definitely moving in the right direction."
She warned that although the Kentucky blood alcohol content limit is 0.08, the Army (BAC) limit for on-duty Soldiers is 0.05. Kirksey said the safest approach to the holidays is to not drive after drinking and arrange for reliable transportation in advance.
"We want people to relax, celebrate and enjoy the holidays, but don't forget the five Ps -- that's prior preparation prevents poor performance," said Kirksey. "We also want folks to know that if you are entertaining during the holidays, friends don't let friends drive drunk, so remove car keys from an impaired individual; encourage them to stay put and call an Uber or leave with a trusted friend who is sober."
Kirksey offered six tips to remember while celebrating:
1. Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the holiday party or celebration begins.
2. Don't think about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle if you have been drinking. There is no true safe limit.
3. If you are impaired on the installation, there are free shuttles which will get you home from any MWR location. The number is (270) 272-8956. If you are away from the installation, consider the use of an Uber or a taxi; use a designated driver or get a sober friend or family member to come and get you.
4. If you are hosting a party this holiday season, stop serving alcohol about two hours before the party is over. Serve coffee or other non-alcoholic beverages as well as food. Remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver.
5. Choose to completely sober up by just staying where you are and/or spending the night if needed. Time is the only remedy.
6. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Take the keys and never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while impaired.
Kirksey offered one more word of advice -- remember those whom you love and who love you: "There's nothing more destructive to a person's life and family, or career, than catastrophic consequences from drunk or drugged driving."
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