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4 The Shepherdstown Chronicle Friday, December 30, 2011
As New Year’s Eveapproaches, plans to celebrateare at the top of many to-dolists. While many of thoseplans involve the use of alco-hol, we at the Chronicle wishto encourage you to refrainfrom the dangers of drinkingand driving.According to statistics gar-
nered from the MothersAgainst Drunk Driving(MADD) website, WestVirginia saw 88 DUI fatalitiesin 2010 with a total of 573 overthe past five years. The NewYear’s holiday begins thereporting of those statistics foryet another year and it is ourhope that the numbersdecrease rather than rise.The MADD site ranks all 50
states andWashington, D.C. intheir percentage of DUIdeaths. Utah, with the ranking
of one, has the lowest percent-age while South Caroline fallsat the highest level ranking#51. West Virginia falls belowthe mid-mark at #20.Regardless of where the
state may fall in national rank-ings, the effort to decrease thenumbers must fall to eachindividual and their personalactions. Make sure that if youchoose to celebrate the start of2012 with the consumption ofalcoholic beverages that youdo not pick up the keys to avehicle and attempt to drive.Designate a driver for yourcelebratory event so that thereis at least one person who isresponsible for making sure allmake it home safely. There aretaxi services available as wellto ensure that you make ithome.Law enforcement officials
will be on the roadways tomake every attempt to curbthose who have been drinkingfrom driving and possiblyharming themselves or others.Remember that no amount offrivolity gained from consum-ing alcohol is worth the loss ofyour life or the life of someoneelse. It is also not worth thepunishments meted out bylaw enforcement officers,courts or one’s own conscienceshould an accident occur. Beon the safe side — don’t drinkand drive.
Kelly CambrelEditorial assistant
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