Few things are as disheartening to a state trooper as responding to the scene of an alcohol-related fatal crash.

Ohio State Highway Patrol officers, emergency medical service professionals, and emergency room doctors and nurses deal with tragedies like this nearly every day. It is easy to ignore the impaired driving problem until it confronts us in our family, our neighborhood, or our workplace.

The fact remains, every day thousands of people make the decision to drive after they have been drinking. The problem worsens in December with the onset of traditional holiday activities.

Alcohol is a factor in roughly 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States. Despite tremendous efforts, the alcohol involvement rate in traffic crashes has reached a plateau over the past four years, with only a 1.6 percent decrease during 1997.

Ohio crash statistics illustrate the impaired driving problem is nothing to be overlooked in our state. In the last seven years, 118 people have died on Ohio roadways during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods. Alcohol was involved in 56 of those deaths, equal to 47.5 percent of the total people killed.

The good news is we have made strides in the battle against impaired driving. The problem, however, still leads to senseless tragedies.

Just two years ago, in 1996, both fatal crashes over the Christmas holiday period in Ohio involved alcohol, and neither of the people killed were wearing safety belts. Fatalities like those demonstrate the point that many vehicle deaths are preventable if proper precautions are taken.

This holiday season, I am asking motorists throughout Ohio to join those of us in the law enforcement, public safety, and health communities in the effort to reduce drinking and driving on our roadways.

Remember, you can call the Highway Patrol toll-free at 1-800-GRAB-DUI, and cellular *DUI to report drunk drivers and drivers who continue to operate a motor vehicle despite convictions and license suspensions for impaired driving. You can also call these numbers to report disabled vehicles or other roadway problems.

December is national Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month. This year’s campaign, "Strengthening Safe Communities," emphasizes that every portion of the community plays a role in the fight against impaired driving. The commitment includes businesses and employers, citizen and civic groups, health care providers and public health agencies, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges, schools, and government and military agencies working together to make the roads safer to travel for everyone.

I encourage all motorists to join the Highway Patrol in commemorating Lights on for Life Day on Friday, December 18. Motorists are asked to join Patrol troopers and drive with their headlights on all day to remind people about the impaired driving problem and to remember those killed by impaired drivers.

The Highway Patrol will also participate in the National Holiday Lifesavers Weekend from Friday, December 18 through Sunday, December 20. During this important weekend, law enforcement agencies across the nation will increase enforcement efforts against impaired drivers, speeders, aggressive drivers, and others who make the roads especially dangerous during the month of December.

I urge all motorists to join the Highway Patrol during all of these important public safety events. Do your part by taking the proper precautions and designate a driver before heading to holiday parties. Make the responsible choice to take the keys from a friend who has had too much to drink. Support and participate in alcohol-free holiday events. Above all, obey all traffic laws, wear your safety belt, and don’t drink and drive.

Holiday travel can also mean dangerous driving conditions brought on by the weather. Snow and ice covered roadways, limited visibility, and cold temperatures are all problems faced this time of the year around Ohio.

An excellent way to check travel conditions statewide is through the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s toll-free road and weather conditions hotline, 1-888-2-OH-ROAD (1-888-264-7623). Also, remember to call the Patrol toll-free at 1-877-7-PATROL to report disabled vehicles.

Working together we can make this a safe and happy holiday season for everyone to enjoy.