Winter weather is not an excuse for drunk driving

Each week, The Missourian is sent a crime log from Maryville Public Safety and University Police Department, and you will see reports of people driving while intoxicated. Though we see it often, there seems to be an uptick during the winter months as students may have decided to take a chance driving to and from the bars.

Saying that drunken driving is a bad decision is not something people would disagree with, but still, one in three students were reported to have driven after drinking during the school year, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Students who would normally walk to the bars or to friends’ houses around town are now choosing to drive instead because of the cold weather conditions.

No matter the time of year, finding an alternative to driving under the influence is crucial to keeping the roads safe. Not wanting to carry a coat around at the bar is not a good reason for endangering and possibly severely injuring yourself or others.

YOUR VIEW:

Do you think people drink and drive more in the winter?

The size of Maryville doesn’t matter, either. Driving a couple blocks to a friend’s house may not seem bad, but it’s still dangerous. Safety is always important and should always be a focus before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Even if you think you are an experienced driver after drinking, something bad can still happen. Alcohol reduces the function of the brain while impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination. Just because you have been lucky once, doesn’t mean you won’t end up hurting yourself or hurting someone else the next time.

The first and simplest solution is having a designated driver. Staying safe is more important than getting drunk at a friend’s house or the bar. In 2020, the 21-24 year age group reported the highest percentage of drunk driver’s.

Campus has resources available where you shouldn’t have to worry about not having a way to safely get to and from places. Students need to utilize campus resources before

RYLEE SAPP Sophomore Applied Health Science

“I would say it’s more common because there’s not as much to do in the winter time, and they’re just sitting around, and they also have to drive places because it’s not so warm outside they can’t walk. ”

NAELEY TORLINE Senior Marine Biology and Spanish

making a decision that could put people in danger.

Some fraternities and sororities have a system where designated people throughout the weekend are responsible for giving rides to their peers. Whether it’s in shifts or the same people all night, it is a foolproof way of making sure people are getting to and from places safely.

Rather than having to worry about who the “most sober” person is or rummaging through your contacts trying to think of who to ask for a ride, there is a system designed to make sure people don’t have to panic or make an unsafe decision about how to get from point A to point B.

You shouldn’t bet your luck on other people’s lives. Members of The Editorial Board have seen the implications first hand. The horror stories are real, and it impacts the people closest to us. Getting behind the wheel after drinking may cost you your life and will forever impact those around you.

“I would say yes because I feel like with it being colder more people want to drive and go to bars, go to parties other than walk. ”

DREU MONSIVAIS Freshman Biomedical Sciences

“Yes because I think that in the winter there’s not as much to do outside so people aren’t as occupied with that so they look for other ways to occupy themselves. ”