Incident calls attention to hazards of drinking and driving

By Crystal D. Hancock

Herald-Tribune

Nevada, Mo. -- Drinking and driving is a serious issue among not just Americans, but all around the world. A perfect example of this is the vehicle accident that occurred Sunday, June 24 on U.S. Highway 71 just outside of Nevada. Matthew W. Yakel, El Dorado Springs, Mo., was driving a red 1998 Ford Explorer south bound on U.S. Highway 71 when he veered off to the right, striking the guard rail. He then bounced off the rail and skidded off of the roadway over the guard rail on the left of the highway. The Ford Explorer then went airborne down the down grade, rolled over and then came to a stop at the bottom of the down grade. Upon arrival, no occupants were found in or around the vehicle. According to the police report, the area smelled heavily of alcoholic beverages. Yakel was found hiding approximately 50 yards from the accident site in a weeded area. He was transported to the Nevada Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Yakel was issued tickets for driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving, driving while revoked, no proof of insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. "He is very lucky that he didn't cause any other drivers to wreck as well and that he turned up with only evident but not serious injuries since he was driving while under the influence," said Nevada Fireman Tim Bullard, one of the crew working the accident.

According to www.alcohol-alert.com there were 16,885 alcohol-related fatalities in 2005 -- 39 percent of the total traffic fatalities for the year. This number is astounding considering all the publicity and education that Americans receive over and over again while growing up in this country. Apparently, the message doesn't always get across to each individual who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle. Driving while either intoxicated or drunk is dangerous and drivers with high blood alcohol content (BAC) are at increased risk of car accidents, highway injuries and vehicular deaths. This is common sense among drivers on the roads in America. However, not everyone remembers to follow the rules, or even sometimes, not everyone knows their own limits.

Nevada Police Captain Jimmie Dye said, "There are always going to be people drinking alcohol. However, please have the common sense not to drive if you have been drinking. If you are not thinking of your own safety, please consider the well being of other drivers on the road. It is not your right to take the life of another driver simply because of irresponsible drinking."

According to MSHP officials, drunk driving, like most other social problems, resists simple solutions. However, there are a number of actions, each of which can contribute toward a reduction of the problem. Automatic license revocation appears to be the single most effective measure to reduce drunk driving. Not only is license revocation effective, but remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. Just as we do not license those who lack eyesight, we should not hesitate to revoke the licenses of those who lack the good judgment not to drive drunk. Automatic license revocation along with a mandatory jail sentence appears to be even more effective than just automatic license revocation. Passing mandatory alcohol and drug testing in fatal crashes would promote successful prosecution of drunk and drugged drivers.

While society has done much to improve highway safety, you can do much to protect yourself. Don't drink and drive and don't ride with anyone who has too much to drink. Remember, it is usually themselves and their passengers who are harmed by drunk drivers. The risk of collision for high BAC drivers is several hundred times higher than for a non-drinking driver. Volunteer to be a designated driver.

Always use a safety seat belt. Use four-lane highways whenever possible. Avoid rural roads. Avoid travel after midnight, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Drive defensively. Choose vehicles with airbags. Never use illegal drugs. Never drive when fatigued. The dangers posed when fatigued are similar to those when intoxicated. A drunk or fatigued driver has slowed reactions and impaired judgment. And a driver who nods off at the wheel has no reactions and no judgment. Drivers who drift off cause about 72,500 injuries and deaths each and every year. Don't use a car phone, put on make-up, comb your hair or eat while driving. Drivers using cellular phones are four times more likely to have an accident than other drivers, according to MSHP officials.

Steer clear of aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers may be responsible for more deaths than drunk drivers.

"If you are driving to see friends or family, please think safety, obey all traffic laws and pay attention to the traffic around you. One second of inattention is all it takes for a traffic crash to occur. If your celebration includes alcohol, don't drive," suggests the Missouri State Highway Patrol Web site.