Forty years ago, my own mother was killed by a drunk driver. She was the first car off a green light when the other driver sped through a red light and tee-boned her car, killing her instantly, leaving my father a widow and her four children without a mother. I was barely four years old, but my siblings were old enough that they have memories of the policeman coming to our home to tell us the bad news. They also remember her funeral, though I have no memories of the event, or any of my mother who was taken away before she was even 30 years old.
It is because of this that I take a personal interest in the innovative eCard being sent out by The Century Council for the Fourth of July holiday: It uses a series of simple images to remind people to stay safe this Independence Day and not drive drunk. The images illustrate activities that are common on a typical Fourth of July holiday - a burger flips on a grill... a flag waves... bees buzz around slices of watermelon... somebody tosses a horseshoe. But it ends with images of what happens when someone has too much to drink, gets into a car, and puts lives in danger. It all happens in the blink of an eye, and then?
The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking; through educational efforts and a peer-to-peer lecture and video program, The Century Council educates students across the country about the hazards of underage drinking and driving. I first learned about the organization in an article at AskPatty.com reporting on the organization's support of Brandon Silveria and his "Make the Right Choice" Program. Brandon was involved in an alcohol-related crash at age 17 just before his high school prom: He was so badly injured that basic motor functions such as walking, talking and swallowing had to be re-learned. He now has permanent brain injury and suffers from dangerous seizures. With the support of The Century Council, Brandon tours the country to share his story so other teen drivers won't make the same mistake.
I hope this eCard will serve as a reminder to all my readers regardless of their age to stay safe this Fourth of July and NEVER drive drunk. Please click on the link to view the eCard at The Century Council, and when it's over, email the eCard to a friend, or post it to your own Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!
By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor