Preventing drinking and driving: personal responsibility and having a plan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  As most Airmen know, safety is one of the core competencies of mission success.

Officials say, in order to achieve and maintain success, safety should be practiced both professionally and personally. Drinking and driving hits the trifecta of derailing one's personal safety, their professional career, and the success of the mission.

"There are many ways drinking and driving can affect your career," said Daniel Hux, 4th Security Forces Squadron security assistant. "Think about the impact on your money by having to pay for a lawyer, court costs and fines. These penalties alone can cost you thousands of dollars. Then think about the effect on the mission. The man hours you're out from the job going to court, visiting your lawyers, and dealing with court-ordered penalties and counseling means that someone else has to do your job while you're out."

When it comes to preventing DUIs, Hux said prevention doesn't start with law enforcement, but rather the individual.

"Laws are put into place to let you know where the limit is, but, ultimately, the burden of prevention falls to those who choose to drink as well as their wingman," Hux said. "Part of being a good citizen and Airman is understanding the laws and following them to a 'T'."

Hux stressed developing a plan is essential to establishing safe practices and precautions associated with the use of alcohol. He said that by having multiple contingency plans, Airmen can avoid any alcohol-related incident. He also suggested traveling in groups and deciding on a designated driver beforehand if there's a possibility alcohol will be consumed.

According to the National Directory of Designated Driver Services, there are more than 600 designated driver services available across 46 states to get people and their vehicles home safely. Airmen Against Drunk Driving is one organization available to all members of Team Seymour, providing free rides home every weekend.

"Sometimes a plan falls apart, which means you must have a backup plan," Hux said. "Airmen Against Drunk Driving is a great program to help people who find themselves in that situation."

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, drunk drivers were responsible for 366 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries across North Carolina in 2013.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation says motorists with a blood alcohol concentration at or more than 0.08 percent are charged with driving while impaired. The maximum punishment is a possible fine of up to $4,000 and a potential term of imprisonment ranging from 30 days to two years.

"Yes, people make poor decisions on alcohol, but being intoxicated is no excuse for making the choice to put oneself behind the wheel," Hux said. "Again, this comes back to personal responsibility and having a plan in place."

For more information on all of Team Seymour's helping agencies, to include Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, click HERE. For those looking for a free safe ride home after a night out, call AADD at 919-722-5633.