By Anne King
Staff Writer
As spring break and prom season come upon us again, I believe that we all need to be reminded that we are not invincible. Although we try to be weightless and carefree as we celebrate getting out of school, or getting ready for the dance, we all have to remember that good decisions matter. What I mean by that is, don’t drink and drive.
Everyone laughs at the keychains they hand out with prom tickets at Springfield High. They repeatedly say “Please return on Monday.” While we all like to joke about returning the prom favor, the serious matter behind it all is nothing to be made light of. Despite it being illegal to drink underage, countless high schoolers (and young college attendees) decide to drink anyhow. Everyone knows it happens, and it won’t change, whether we like it or not. However, just because one might make the decision to consume alcohol, we all need to be aware of the dangers that surround getting behind the wheel of a car afterwards.
According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, nearly 16,000 people die per year due to driving under the influence. One out of every three Americans will be affected by drunk driving in their lifetime. Nationwide, the percentage of fatal car crashes due to driving under the influence are lowering, due to many campaigns to raise awareness of the issue.
DARE wants teens to know what happens to their bodies when alcohol is introduced. Your vision can be changed drastically, impairing your ability to perceive depth, it may become blurred, and become sensitive to light. Your brain loses its ability to control your muscles, leading to issues in coordination and movement, as well as slowing your reaction time.
While drinking with your friends might be fun, your life is not worth it. So please make the smart decision to not drive, or ride with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. See you on Monday.
Anne King can be reached at [email protected]