JEFFERSON CITY -- Today's teens and young adults are always looking at what their future could hold. They are the music makers and dreamers of dreams. All too often, those dreams are shattered by the act of being distracted or impaired while behind the wheel. It only takes one moment to redefine your future.
In the last three years, there were 53 fatal crashes and 144 serious injury crashes involving an impaired driver under the age of 21. As a result of making this wrong choice, 64 people died and 202 were seriously injured in these crashes.
Law enforcement will be on the lookout for underage impaired driving May 5-16 with a high-visibility enforcement campaign. Timing of the campaign will coincide with statewide prom and graduation dates, which are often when teens and young adults consume alcohol.
"This is a very impactful campaign," said Bill Whitfield, chair of the executive committee of the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. "The futures of today's teens can be quickly shattered by the consequences of one moment -- one careless decision to get behind the wheel while impaired."
Missouri has a Zero Tolerance Law. If you are under 21, your license will be suspended if you're caught driving with even a trace of alcohol in your system. Consequences of drunk driving include jail time, the loss of driver licenses or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Other financial hits include higher insurance rates, attorney fees and court costs. In the worst cases, the underage driver becomes a killer.
Please remember that a seatbelt is your best defense in any traffic crash. Buckle up and Arrive Alive. For more information, please visit www.saveMOlives.com or on social media at Save MO Lives.