LETTERS: READERS AKSED TO JOIN EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES

To the editor:

Last year, 16,600 Americans and 288 Missourians lost their lives as a result of alcohol-involved crashes. Nationwide, that's one about every 30 minutes and in Missouri one every 30 hours. This is totally unacceptable as impaired driving deaths and injuries are 100 percent preventable.

This holiday season, hundreds of government agencies, law-enforcement officials, community groups, local businesses and major U.S. corporations are banding together to recognize National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month and to take a stand against impaired driving.

I encourage your readers to join this national movement by taking a stand against impaired driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has set a national goal of reducing DWI fatalities to 11,000 annually by the year 2005. That's almost 6,000 fewer than last year, and it's a rate that would reduce impaired-driving fatalities to 30 percent of the total number of driving fatalities from all causes in a decade. This is an ambitious goal, one that will require all of us doing our part.

Taking a stand is simple, and there are lots of ways to do it. First, don't drink and drive. Never serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21. If you drink, always plan ahead and designate a non-drinking driver.

If you are having a party this holiday season, be a responsible host. Serve a wide variety of beverages, including some that are non-alcoholic. Control the amount of alcoholic beverages served. Ask alcohol-impaired guests to stay overnight or call a cab to assure them a safe ride home.

Together, we can reach our goal of decreasing DWI-related fatalities and injuries. These are tragedies that don't need to happen. Do your part to take a stand against impaired driving this holiday season and throughout the year.

DAN A. NEEDHAM, Director

Missouri Division of Highway Safety

Jefferson City