The consequences of deciding to drive under the influence can be deadly. Unfortunately, the number of Texans killed in alcohol-related crashes each year continues to rise, prompting the Texas Department of Transportation to take a new approach.
In 2020, there were 963 DUI-alcohol-related fatalities on Texas roadways. Statistically, this number means that one person in Texas dies every nine hours in a traffic crash involving alcohol.
As part of the TxDOT initiative “Drive Sober. No Regrets,” the Faces of Drunk Driving social media campaign puts faces to the consequences of driving impaired.
According to the TxDOT, one of the new “faces” of the campaign is 25-year-old Walter Tidwell. He discusses “details of the night he decided to hop in his car and drive home alone after a long night of drinking.” Fortunately, Tidwell was pulled over after driving the wrong way down a one-way street before he could hurt himself or someone else. Tidwell just recently resolved the case after three years of court visits and will undergo alcohol and drug offender courses, community service, and probation.
The TxDOT campaign will feature exhibits and more real-life testimonies from Texans who decided to drive under the influence of alcohol.
”Drinking and driving can lead to tragic consequences that are 100% preventable,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “These consequences involve individuals who made the unfortunate decision to drink and drive along with many innocent victims of those decisions. This is why it is critical to always plan ahead for a sober ride through a designated driver, taxi, ride-share app, or simply by staying where you are. Drinking and driving do not mix.”
Nov. 7, 2000, was the last day that no one died on Texas roadways. Williams hopes the Faces of Drunk Driving is another opportunity for residents to see the dangers of driving impaired.
