Be Smart; Be Brave; Be a Good Friend

Don’t let anyone drink and drive

May 4-15 marks the annual Youth Alcohol Enforcement Campaign. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety will take that time to encourage Missouri’s youth to be smart, be brave, and be a good friend by not letting anyone drink and drive.

In 2016, 201 people were killed and 652 were seriously injured in crashes involving a substance-impaired driver. “This is preventable,” said Bill Whitfield, chair of the executive committee of the coalition. “201 lives lost could have been zero lives lost, and that’s the number we want to work toward with the help of this campaign.”

It is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess or consume alcohol in Missouri, and the state’s Zero Tolerance law states that if you are under 21, your license will be suspended if you are caught driving with even a trace of alcohol in your system.  Other potential consequences of choosing to drive impaired for drivers of all ages include:

*Being charged with involuntary manslaughter if you cause a fatal crash while intoxicated – a felony resulting up to seven years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine;

*Installing an ignition interlock device on their car before reinstating driving privileges if you are found guilty of a second or subsequent intoxication-related traffic offense;

*Having difficulty finding insurance coverage and having significantly higher rates.

*Losing your license on the spot and having your car impounded should you refuse a sobriety test; and/or

*Suffering the added embarrassment, humiliation, potential loss and consequences after informing family, friends and employers.

For more information, please visit www.saveMOlives.com or on social media at Save MO Lives.