Students urged to say goodbye to DUI

It looked like the graduating class of Kearns High School was posing for a yearbook photo in their green and gold caps and gowns — until you got close enough to read the signs: "Smart enough to graduate," they said, "too smart to drive drunk."

Officials from Utah State Parks, Utah Highway Safety and Utah Highway Patrol used the students as a backdrop to launch the 2009 anti-DUI/safe driving campaign, "100 Days of Summer."

It's a natural pairing, because while teens make up only 7 percent of Utah drivers, they're responsible for almost a quarter of motor-vehicle crashes, according to the most recent statistics, taken from 2007. That year, drivers in 2,718 crashes were alcohol-impaired, injuring 1,900 and killing 42. DUI-related crashes were 3.6 times more likely to be fatal than other crashes. And while drivers 20 to 24 had the most alcohol-impaired crashes, 12 percent of impaired drivers were under 21.

"Most don't intend to drive drunk," said Capt. Steve Sandquist of the West Valley City Police Department, who emceed the event. Some tell themselves they're "buzzed," not drunk. Buzzed means they're too impaired to drive, he said.

He warned the students to have a plan if they're in a situation with alcohol or drugs. But under no circumstance should someone be allowed to drive impaired. "If you know someone's impaired, take their keys," he said, adding that police will be "out in force" looking for impaired drivers this summer.

The officials hurled slogans like "Over the limit, under arrest," or "Boat safe, boat sober" at the students, hoping to help the message stick.

Christopher Quick, with Utah State Parks, emphasized that behavior not tolerated on the road does not play in the backcountry, on the trails or in the water, either. Driving under the influence can involve a car, a boat or other recreational vehicle, he said. "Being arrested for DUI is being arrested for DUI, no matter how scenic the setting."

"Way too many or one too many, it's not worth the risk," said UHP Maj. Kathy Slagowski, adding that nationally, someone dies from a DUI-related crash every 40 minutes.

The soon-to-be-grads bring with them "dozens of good friends, hundreds of good memories, thousands of good decisions," said Alex Wiles, Kearns High's student-body president, who told them not to let a "moment of stupidity" destroy them. "You can have fun without drinking."

The students were also given tangible reminders in the form of T-shirts with messages like "I run barefoot through cactus, but I don't drink and drive" or "I floss with barbwire, but I don't drink and drive."

E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com