EVERY HALF HOUR, SOMEONE STILL DIES FROM DRUNK DRIVING

As we celebrate this holiday season, some of us may over do -- too much food, too much drink. When this "drink and be merry" attitude extends to the roadways, the result can be deadly. Across the nation, someone dies every half hour in a drunken driving accident -- and far too often those killed are but innocent victims.

Something we can celebrate is the fact the number of drunk driving fatalities is declining. There are many factors -- but Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is certainly at the head of the list. They should be proud of their achievement. Mothers -- along with fathers and sisters and brothers -- who have lost loved ones to senseless accidents have become outspoken opponents of drinking and driving. Their efforts to make drunk driving "uncool" have paid off. The number of alcohol-related fatalities has been declining steadily for five years.

Still -- about 17,700 Americans died last year due to alcohol-impaired driving. Another 1.4 million people were injured due to alcohol-related crashes. In Missouri, 241 people died in alcohol-related crashes last year. Alcohol plays into just over one-fourth of all fatal crashes in the state.

As a holiday reminder, Gov. Carnahan has proclaimed December as "3D Month." The three Ds to avoid this month are "drunk and drugged driving." In recognition of this month, Cape Girardeau and other law enforcement agencies across the state will step up DWI patrols next week.

Cape Girardeau has operated special weekend DWI patrols since February of 1988. These patrols have enjoyed much success in finding drunk drivers -- and perhaps averting a tragedy. A state grant funds the overtime pay of officers who volunteer for these special patrols. The grant was recently renewed for another year.

Educational efforts have focused both on adults and children. Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) chapters have been active in the area with local high schools hosting alcohol-free dances and events.

Cape Girardeau's MADD chapter has been quite active since its formation in January of 1992. MADD members let their message be heard through monthly victim impact panels, which started on a trial basis this past summer. Judges in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry Counties have mandated attendance for many first-time DWI offenders. Giving faces to the statistics can be sobering.

Nationally, MADD hasn't limited itself to attitudes or enforcement. They have also focused on changing legislation across the nation. Missouri has been chastised for its failure to reduce the legal limit of intoxication from .10 to .08 percent. Last year alone 13 states reduced their limits to .08 percent. Some states have gone even further. Oregon has reduced its intoxication limit to .04 percent. The issue will be raised again during the coming legislative session, we will follow the debate with interest.

The success of MADD has been to bring the big picture of drunk driving down to the human element. They don't measure the toll of drunk driving in numbers, but in the names and personal accounts of the people lost -- men, women and children who won't be around the holiday table this year to welcome Christmas and the new year. It's these faces and broken families we must remember as we appoint a designated driver, encourage friends to take a taxi home, or turn down one for the road.