Dallas County is bolstering its efforts to combat driving while intoxicated during the holiday season by deploying a task force dedicated to this troubling issue and launching the #WhatAlcoholSays campaign. In an announcement that echoes historic initiatives, the DWI task force, now running for over four decades, is again preparing to address the seasonal rise in alcohol-related incidents.
According to FOX 4 News, Dallas County ranks second in the state for alcohol-related crashes, a sobering statistic that officials hope to change. Last year, Dallas County experienced 2,113 such crashes, with 108 of them fatal. Assistant DA Lauren Black impressed upon the public the importance of thinking about others, saying, "Getting behind the wheel drunk or high is incredibly reckless, illegal and a selfish decision. We're asking you just to simply think about others." This emotional plea comes days after a wrong-way driver caused a fatal accident in Irving, underscoring the urgency of the county's message.
To reinforce these sentiments, Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia stated, as per Audacy, "It's a choice. Drinking is a choice, and if you're going to drink, don't drive." Local non-profit 24 Hour Dallas, representing 39 businesses, is providing practical measures by offering five-dollar discount codes for Lyft sober rides to ensure that patrons make safer choices after consuming alcohol.
As the county strives to reduce these preventable tragedies, MADD's Emma Dugas invites the community to "Take charge of your holiday safety by planning ahead for transportation during the holidays." The loss of life from such incidents extends beyond the statistics, a reality all too familiar for Rosaria Saenz, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver. She expressed the profound loss of future memories, condemning the crime as 100% preventable, as detailed by Audacy.
