On Saturday, October 24, 2015 Ohio State University had their homecoming parade, but this year, something went wrong.
Homecoming is supposed to be a fun weekend for reuniting with friends, having a great time and everything in between. But at this homecoming parade, a tragic event happened that no one expected. Four people were killed. One was a two year old child, and several other people were injured. They didn't die from alcohol poisoning or anything that they caused on their own, they died at the hands of someone else. A woman who made the decision to drink and drive that day, and as a result, drove her car into a crowd of people at the homecoming parade.
Driving under the influence has been established into our minds as completely unacceptable from the early stages of life. When you make the decision to get behind the wheel as an impaired driver, you put thousands of other people's innocent lives at risk, including your own. The way our brains process situations when we are under the influence of alcohol makes it seem like we are invincible. We think that nothing will happen to us, and that we won't get caught. It is never our intention to harm anyone, but the truth of the matter is, choosing to drive under the influence isn't just a dangerous decision, it's a cowardly decision. There are plenty of ways to get from point A to point B safely when you're drunk, and choosing to drive just isn't one of those ways.
As the partying season seems year long for a college campus, it's important to remember some ways to prevent drunk driving.
1. Choose a designated driver.
It's a simple, sure fire way to make sure everyone stays safe. At the beginning of the night, choose someone responsible to ensure that everyone can get home without driving behind the wheel under the influence. It can be someone who doesn't drink, or is willing to take one for the team this time. If you find out that your DD decided to drink, don't be afraid to take his or her keys and call a taxi, or even take a bus.
2. Don't be afraid of aggravating people.
It might seem a little scary or you may feel bad that you will hurt someone's feeling by taking away said person's keys if they're trying to drive while intoxicated, but people's safety is more important than the drunk driver's feelings in this moment.
3. Call a taxi.
Taxi cab services like Uber are becoming more and more popular, because you can schedule the driver to pick you up from your smartphone, and you can pay through the app.
4. Take a bus.
Lots of college campuses offer late night busing for people who choose to utilize this form of transportation. Take advantage of it if it's offered to you.
5. Spend the night somewhere.
If all else fails, you may make the decision to spend the night wherever you are to give yourself time to sober up and drive home the next day. Don't be afraid to do this! One uncomfortable night sleeping on a couch or floor is worth your safety and the safety of others.
Bottom line: don't be stupid, and especially don't drink and drive.
