There鈥檚 nothing worse than writing the same words twice. But here we are, stuck repeating ourselves for a second year in a row.
Last December, we used this space to denounce drinking and driving, calling on all of Jasper鈥檚 residents and visitors to choose a more responsible way home after an evening of merrymaking.
We reminded our readers that we live in Jasper after all and all it takes is a 15-minute walk or a two-minute, $6 cab ride to get home. We argued there鈥檚 just no excuse for getting behind the wheel after a holiday party鈥攐r a few innocent drinks after work.
Yet, one year later the Jasper RCMP is reporting that the community is on track to double the number of tickets issued for impaired driving in 2013.
It鈥檚 hard to believe, especially when you consider all of the money, time and ink that has been spent educating people about the dangers of drunk driving.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers was formed 34 years ago and in that time it has consistently pumped out messaging to prevent such crimes. There are student groups against drunk driving. December has been deemed Impaired Driving Awareness Month.
And yet people are still getting behind the wheel after an evening in the pub.
The question is why? What鈥檚 going through people鈥檚 minds when they hop in the car?
For many, the short distance and the blistering cold weather will be enough reason to push their keys in the ignition. It鈥檚 easy to rationalize it: 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a short distance, nothing will happen.鈥�
But, no matter how far the distance, there is still a significant risk.
If you鈥檙e impaired, you likely won鈥檛 be as quick to react to the icy road conditions or the jaywalker, who鈥檚 taking a shortcut to quicken the cold walk home, and as a result, your decision to drive could result in injury or death.
That鈥檚 the worst case scenario.
But there are other risks as well鈥攍ike getting caught.
If charged with impaired driving, a first time offender receives a one-year driver鈥檚 license suspension.
There鈥檚 no ifs, ands or buts about it. There鈥檚 no leeway. There鈥檚 no amount of begging or pleading that will make it go away.
So if you drive for a living, as a cab driver or tour bus operator, you could be out of a job.
Or if you have kids whose extra-curricular activities require adventures outside of the park, you鈥檙e out of luck and so are they.
All it takes is one bad decision to change your life completely.
So, please folks, don鈥檛 make us write this editorial a third time鈥攍eave the car at home.
