Colonel Kenneth
B. Marshall
Superintendent
Ohio State Highway Patrol
I will always remember the first time I responded to the scene of a fatal crash that involved a teen who had consumed alcohol and then got behind the wheel of a car.
There is no way to forget the images of the life that had been needlessly cut short. There was no way to properly console the family and friends who had to endure the loss of a loved one.
Regrettably, the issue of teenage drinking and driving is a problem that impacts countless families each year.
If you are the parent of a teen, I encourage you to share this article with them and discuss drinking and driving.
If you are a teen, take this article to school and share it with your classmates and friends.
If you think drinking and driving among teenagers in not a serious problem with severe consequences, think again.
Nationwide, motor vehicle crashes have historically been among the leading cause of death for teenagers. In 1996, 293 people ages 16 to 20 died in Ohio traffic crashes, and 63 of those deaths were from alcohol-related crashes. Drivers ages 16 to 20 were responsible for 17.1 percent of the alcohol-related traffic deaths in the state during 1996, and 12.8 percent of the alcohol-related injuries.
The legal consequences and potential tragedies incurred with drinking and driving are too big to ignore.
As a teen, think about what things would be like with your license suspended, or spending time in an alcohol addiction program, having point violations on your license, and being required to take a remedial driving course.
Above all that, think about being a teen in the hospital facing a disabling injury for the rest of your life. Even worse, think about being dead.
The None for Under 21 campaign is a statewide program conducted each April. Sponsored by the Ohio Depart-ment of Public Safety, this campaign reminds teens that it is illegal to con-sume alcohol if they are under the age of 21.
Additionally, the program emphasizes to teens the legal consequences, and the tragedies faced if they make the wrong decision to drink and drive.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol will again be an active participant in this year’s None for Under 21 campaign. Troopers will conduct special presenta-tions, stage mock crash scenarios, and work with local schools on other educational programs.
Participating schools are asked to choose a week during the month to designate as "Memorial Week." During this week, students wear red bracelets in memory of teens who died in alcohol-related traffic crashes.
Many schools display a None for Under 21 banner and hang posters in halls. Students hear daily public address announcements about the dangers of drinking and driving, and are reminded of the problems associated with underage drinking during numerous activities throughout the month.
I want to remind everyone that traffic crashes are historically a leading killer of young people in the United States. As proms and graduations grow closer, I urge all teens to make the right decision not to drink and drive.