It is especially poignant this time of year for the subject of alcohol, drunk driving, and irresponsible behavior to come up. The Prom is only weeks away, and then graduation and ultimate party. The majority of students will choose to stay safe and sober for these events. However, there are the few who will engage in these activities. These people are the reason that public service announcements have been announced every morning. These people are why the seniors had an emotional presentation on drunk driving. These people are why there will be breathalyzers in and out of the prom. This is all done to keep teens safe, and it’s doing an excellent job of it.

A recent study by the Chronic Diseases Center determined that 14.7 percent of Caucasian students drove after drinking alcohol. The number was lower for African American and Hispanics. This 14.7 percent perhaps did not all get into accidents, however the fact remains that they broke the law. Taking measures such as the breathalyzers, and the “dry” Ultimate Party are a great way to keep the student body safe. Not only does it keep students from driving under the influence and injuring themselves, it can keep them from injuring others. According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, “young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are more often involved in alcohol-related crashes than any other comparable age group. Alcohol-crash involvement rates, share of the alcohol-crash problem and alcohol-crash risk all reach their peaks with young drivers.”

The administration, in combination with the Wilbraham Police Force, is participating in these activities for the well being of the students. What is going to happen will hopefully, only make students safer and allow them to have a more enjoyable time. Drunk driving affects everyone, not just those who participated in accidents caused by alcohol Taking actions like Breathalyzers and the Ultimate Party deserve more credit than they receive. Keeping seniors safe is the highest priority.

It is sad to say, but almost every senior has a story to relate of some one who was drunk or stoned and then drove a car. Some students know people who have died, others just people who have been in close calls. Everyone has a personal story to tell, but many don’t listen, thinking that this “could never happen to them” or that “they can handle it”. On page 15 of this issue there is an article relating several students’ experiences with alcohol. Their stories are not positive and again, we see teens saying they can “handle” it. This mentality is extremely dangerous. It should be the goal of every student to make it to senior year and not have an account to relate about a friend or classmate dying from an alcohol related accident.

So as this year draws to a close, let’s thank the administration and the class of 2004 for the hard work and planning they put into making the senior year safe. In 2002, 17,419 people were killed in crashes involving alcohol, representing 41 percent of the 42,815 people killed in all traffic crashes, according to NHTSA data. If everyone cooperates, no one will have to become a statistic.