To the Editor:
Drinking and driving is very dangerous, sometimes deadly. About three in every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. Dying or killing someone because of alcohol or drugs is a preventable tragedy. If you don’t want to add to these numbers, don’t drink and drive.
The majority of impaired drivers, nearly half, have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) at or above .20 – more than twice the legal limit in Maine. Remember that 12 oz. of beer = 5 oz. of wine = 1.5 oz of liquor.
Drivers arrested for OUI (Operating under the Influence) have BACs averaging .15 – almost twice the legal limit in Maine.
Over one-third of college students report having driven while intoxicated within the past year. Over half of the people jailed for OUI are repeat offenders.
Teenagers and young adults are involved in about half of all the fatal alcohol-related crashes. All too often, those killed are passengers of the drinking driver.
The financial cost of getting caught for OUI is about $7000 including lawyer’s fees, towing charges, higher insurance charges, and the loss of your license.
Drivers under the influence are getting caught. Think about it, be safe, don’t drink and drive.
Mary Trescot, Damariscotta
