Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Opinion

Opinion Columnist: Chelsea Lankes

We are no strangers to the devastating effects of drinking and driving. It's common sense to think that getting behind the wheel while intoxicated is never worth the risk of hurting yourself or someone else on the road, yet people still drive after they have been drinking.

On the night of Oct. 21, 2007, Aaron Somers, a 21-year-old Texas A&M construction science major, was driving home from a fraternity party after a night of drinking, and consequently rear-ended other driver Michelle Briggs. Briggs, a 36-year-old mother of two teenagers, was hospitalized over the week and was pronounced dead on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007. Somers was charged the day of the accident with intoxication assault, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Ironically, that week was National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week.

Briggs is not the only victim of such a tragedy, and Somers is not the only one who has made the decision to drink and drive. There are many more incidents of arrests and accidents here in the Bryan/College Station area just this year. From the beginning of 2007 to date, there have been 49 alcohol related accidents, 277 driving while intoxicated arrests and 100 arrests made for driving under the influence in College Station, an overall increase from 2006.

Drinking plays a large role in college culture: social drinking, abusive drinking and unfortunately, drinking and driving. Some nights, people get lucky: students and partygoers drink and get behind the wheel and make it home safely. However, we are fooling ourselves if that is the overall mindset that is taken for drinking and driving. The so commonly and overused phrase that haunts us all, "that would never happen to me," is a cop-out instead of taking responsibility for our actions.

Drivers are not the only ones responsible in cases of drinking and driving. Friends and surrounding individuals should be accountable as well. Anyone that sees or knows a person is not capable of driving should not let them drive.

CARPOOL is a unique program that provides safe and non-judgmental rides home Thursdays through Saturdays. So far this year, they have given almost 7,000 rides with a goal of 10,000. All this is well and good, but only 14-20 cars are assigned on nights that the majority of students go out to drink. The need for more cars is still prevalent because it seems the number of those that drink and drive in College Station is on the rise.

Fraternities and sororities are noted for having large parties that include alcohol. Those parties are all fun and games and are a large contribution to the social atmosphere in Greek Life and others associated, but certain precautions need to be taken. Those that are in charge of such big parties, even those that aren't associated with Greek Life, should contact CARPOOL ahead of time. Maybe one or two cars could be assigned to a large party to guarantee those in need a ride home.

A system has yet to be established between CARPOOL and large parties, maybe due to lack of volunteers or number of cars, or lack of initiative by those organizing parties, but it would be beneficial to those attending such parties to have a ride home, especially those that aren't associated with pledges or who are designated drivers to other fraternity brothers.

I don't want to put too much weight on CARPOOL, because in reality, it is up to the individual. CARPOOL is a wonderful program, but it is not sufficient to provide rides to every single person that needs one on any given night that they have been drinking. If you know you will be drinking, ask a friend to be the designated driver for the night. Take turns, buy them dinner, bribe them, whatever it takes just to be safe. The price of one night of not-so-much fun, will never compare to the price you pay if you decide to drink and drive.

- Chelsea Lankes is a junior communication major.

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