By Diana Ramos |Staff Writer|
Delta Sigma Chi is hosting their 8th Annual Drunk Driving Awareness Event, Delta Sigma Chi vs. Drunk Driving. This event will be hosted on Jan. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Union’s Event Center.
Kevin Brooks, a survivor of a drunk driving car accident, will be the guest speaker of the event.
Brooks, who is now paralyzed from the waist down, wants to share his story with all of us and how drunk driving has affected his life.
This event began eight years ago when a fellow fraternity sister of Delta Sigma Chi was in a car accident caused by drunk driving.
Although she was the only sober passenger, she did not make it out alive. Delta Sigma Chi’s goal is to inform students of the importance of having a designated sober driver when going out for a drink.
This fraternity also wants to prevent people from driving intoxicated by informing students of the consequences if they do. The fraternity does not want anyone to be a victim of drunk driving.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 48 minutes.”
Delta Sigma Chi’s story tells us that we do not necessarily have to be intoxicated to lose our life.
We can simply be hanging out with our friends who have had a bit too much to drink and maybe be embarrassed to take their keys or simply find another ride home.
Some safety measures you can take to avoid deaths caused by alcohol-impaired driving are:
• Prior to any drinking, designate a non-drinking driver when with a group.
• Don’t let your friends drive impaired. Take their keys away.
• If you have been drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi.
• If you’re hosting a party where alcohol will be served, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, offer alcohol-free beverages and make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
No one likes to be the designated driver especially college students.
Being a DD may not be fun at times but losing someone to drunk drivers is even worse.
Having a designated driver is very important when going to parties where there will be alcoholic beverages.
If you are the designated driver, here are some tips you can follow:
• Plan ahead whenever you are going to socialize with alcohol beverages.
• Decide ahead of time who will not drink any alcohol before or during the party/event.
• Consider taking turns being the designated driver
• Larger groups should have more than one designated driver.
Coming to this event will not only educate you why it is important to have a designated driver but it will also show you the consequences of not having one.
It’s all about taking responsibility for the repercussions that may result from any type of drunk driving.
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