3D targets DUIs

No, this is not an attack on three-dimensional Hollywood filmmakers. This is an entire month dedicated to raising awareness of the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

With the rapid approach of the holiday season, December is the perfect time to launch such a program. As we all know, the holidays are a time of traditional bingeing.

Many of our holiday celebrations include alcoholic beverages. Thanksgiving dinners are not complete without a glass of wine and ice chests at football parties are filled with beer to wash down the salty snacks.  Even Christmas is not the same without a few cups of eggnog.

No matter how we choose to celebrate, the most important thing is to do it responsibly. This column is not about telling people what to do or how to do it. Rather, this is about getting people to think about what could happen if they make poor decisions.

Statistics, according to the California Highway Patrol, show that 221 people were killed in Los Angeles County out of 1170 accidents throughout the state in 1999. That breaks down to about 19 percent of all alcohol-related fatalities occurring in our backyards.

We have all heard the public service announcements telling us to think when we drink, buckle up for safety, be smart, don't start and to just say no. While we can sit here and debate the effectiveness of these announcements, the Highway Patrol's statistics show that the number of people injured or killed in alcohol-related crashes has risen over the past three years.

Drunken driving is a huge problem and gets worse around the holidays. No matter how you celebrate, just remember to do so responsibly. If not, your chances of going to jail or dying are increased. Is that something you are willing to risk?