Take steps to prevent drinking and driving

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I am positive most of us wouldn't voluntarily kill an innocent person or ourselves, so why do a few of us continue to take the risk by driving drunk? 

During the month of July alone, we had seven DUIs. That is, by far, more than we have had in recent years. Seven people whose careers are now in jeopardy, seven people who now find themselves with a variety of penalties including suspended licenses and thousands of dollars worth of fines. Seven people who committed a crime. Seven people who can count themselves lucky that they didn't physically hurt themselves or anyone else! 

We should be surprised and utterly disappointed when a DUI comes across our desks. Driving the numbers down is great, but it shouldn't be about that--it should be about saving lives! Even a single DUI is too many. 

These Airmen made extremely poor choices for a variety of reasons, the main reason being that they were under the influence of alcohol when they made their decision. I call them "near misses"-- deaths that could happen tomorrow if we don't change the path we are on. We must all be there for each other, especially when alcohol is involved. I take each one of these events as a personal defeat as every member of Team Travis should. These are preventable crimes, if we make a vow to make the right decision, every time, and we set that expectation with those around us! 

Each time a member gets a DUI they stand in front of my desk and I ask their supervisors "why?" Most of the time, they had a plan before they started drinking, but the problem arose when they didn't stick to it. What I don't understand though, is there are programs out there like Airman Against Drunk Driving that are ready and willing to help us out if a plan falls through. Why risk it when you don't have to? Please take the time to review the Tailwind this week. Post it in your offices and remember that the life you save by choosing not to get behind the wheel could be your own. I need your help in stopping alcohol-related incidents and DUIs.

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!