Are you willing to pay the price for the $51 billion club? Published Jan. 23, 2008 By Danielle Gregory TinKer Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Have you ever gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming a few drinks? If you have, then you have invested into the $51 billion club. It is estimated that each year $51 billion is spent on alcohol related crashes. During 2003, 17,013 deaths occurred in the U.S. alone because of alcohol-impaired drivers; 2,136 of those deaths were children under the age of 14. These investors have killed their future along with others. This represents nearly one-half of all traffic related deaths in the U.S are alcohol related. Perhaps the biggest tragedy in these numbers are that most of those killed were unsuspecting bystanders, not the impaired driver. Vehicular manslaughter. Vehicular homicide. You can put whatever name you want on this crime, but the fact is these individuals knowingly got behind the wheel of what turned out to be a killing machine and killed an innocent victim. At Tinker Air Force Base, we had 47 DUIs committed by military personnel throughout 2007 and untold civilians committing the same offense. Although the court system doesn't define it as such, actions of this sort could be likened to first-degree murder. Just look at the definitions for a moment. Taken directly from lawforkids.org, first degree murder is defined as: "Causing the death of another person with either the intent or knowledge that the conduct will cause death and with premeditation. Premeditation is often described as 'malice aforethought,' which means that you probably considered the consequence of your conduct for at least a second before you committed the act." With all the education available, those who drink and drive know the possible consequences of their actions before they get into their vehicle to drive. Yet, still they turn on the ignition, shift into first gear and off they go. How can you help stop the carnage? The best way is to have a plan before you go out, designate a driver to get your group home before you start drinking, or call AD2D at 820-4444. It's as simple as that. Make no mistake that law enforcement has doubled efforts to curtail DUIs, setting up sobriety checks and adding stiffer penalties. Therefore, if you drink and drive, the chances of getting caught increase each and everyday. Don't let the next phone call you get late at night be from the hospital telling you a loved one was injured in a drunk driving accident. Don't let the knock at the door at 3 a.m. be from a policeman telling you someone you loved has just been killed in an alcohol-related death. What price would you be willing to pay for your son or daughter, sister or brother, mother or father? Forever is a long time. Are you willing to pay the price for the $51 billion club? Additional tips for designated drivers: · 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 or event · Consider taking turns being the designated driver on alternating nights (be a good wingman and they will be a good wingman in return) · Larger groups should have more than one designated driver. In addition to being or using a designated driver, you can save lives by taking car keys from intoxicated people to prevent them from being drunk drivers. Here are some helpful hints on how to get the keys from a drunk person about to drive: · Be calm. · Make it clear that you're doing the drunk person a favor. · Locate their keys while they're preoccupied and take them away. They will probably think they've lost them and will be forced to accept another mode of transportation. · If it is a close friend, try to use a soft, calm approach. Suggest to them privately that they've had too much to drink and it would be better if someone else drove them home or if they took a cab or other transportation. · If it's a good friend, spouse, or loved one, tell them that if they insist on driving, you are not going with them. Tell them that you will ride with someone else, take public transportation, or walk. · If it's someone you don't know well, speak to their friends and have them make an attempt to persuade them to hand over the keys. · If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational. A designated driver helps friends and family: · avoid embarrassment · keep their drivers licenses · avoid fines · stay out of jail · prevent senseless injury and death Tinker Air Force Base offers a great program called Airmen Against Drunk Driving. Anyone can call 820-4444 so don't ever risk the chance of killing yourself or someone else. The A2D2 service is available to any valid military ID card holder, including Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, non-prior service, permanent party, temporary duty, military-contracted civilians and dependents. In short, don't join the $51B club....you'll be glad you choose not to join.