​​A note from the Environmental Health and Safety Department​

This time last year, we discussed a company phrase, “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.” and how that ties into the holidays. Please refer back to last year’s ECHO article for a reminder of those “Sobering Statistics” regarding holiday drunk driving.

This year, like every year for the past 16 years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Ad Council have partnered together for their Project Roadblock campaign. Project Roadblock is a multiplatform drunk driving prevention campaign exclusive to local broadcast television stations that is designed to highlight the dangers of drinking and driving. You’ve probably seen this TV spot already, which does a good job of cheekily reminding drivers how to realize when they’ve had one too many.

The “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” campaign has been around since 2004 and in than time span alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have decreased ~25% from 14,409 in 2004 to 10,511 in 2018. However, from Christmas to New Year’s Day in 2018 there were still 10,087 motor vehicle traffic crash fatalities, which is up from 978 such incidents in the same time frame in 2017.

Please consult the infographic below​ provided by Project Roadblock for more information on drinking and driving during the holiday season and remember, “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”.