SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
The Lemon Grove City Council on Tuesday declared December 2017 as Impaired Driving Prevention Month and issued a proclamation to members of the East County Youth Coalition (ECYC) from Mt. Miguel and Liberty Charter high schools.
“We see more impaired driving during the holiday season,” Mayor Raquel Vasquez said. “Let’s work together to protect our youth, improve public safety in Lemon Grove and raise awareness of these preventable dangers.”
SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
The Lemon Grove City Council on Tuesday declared December 2017 as Impaired Driving Prevention Month and issued a proclamation to members of the East County Youth Coalition (ECYC) from Mt. Miguel and Liberty Charter high schools.
“We see more impaired driving during the holiday season,” Mayor Raquel Vasquez said. “Let’s work together to protect our youth, improve public safety in Lemon Grove and raise awareness of these preventable dangers.”
Focusing on healthy neighborhoods, schools and families helps ECYC members work to create change in East County and Lemon Grove.
“Our message to adults is simple, don’t break the law by giving us alcohol or marijuana and make sure your prescription medication is locked up," William Robinson, a senior at Mt. Miguel said. “Families play an essential part in stopping impaired driving."
The number of traffic crash fatalities caused by impaired driving has increased recently and preventable alcohol-related deaths account for almost one-third of all traffic fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Drinking and driving is not the only danger on the road. People who drive while under the influence of marijuana in some cases are twice as likely to end up in a car crash, according to NHTSA. In addition, driving while under the influence of prescription drugs is another concern.
The students called for a change in social norms and to challenge the misconception that its safer to let youth drink at home and that youth drink too early, too much, and too often. They also advocated for additional resources for law enforcement to increase patrols in search of impaired drivers.
