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Alcohol Awareness Month Real Life Story

"I caused a wreck. I didn't know I was drunk, but I was drunk enough to cause a wreck."

"I never really had an alcohol problem. I wasn't one of those people who struggled with addiction or resisting the urge to drink. I was/am a social drinker. I just drink occasionally and have never really had any issues with doing so. But one night I was drinking at a friend's house and then I drove home. I shouldn't have driven home. I wasn't drunk drunk but I was drunk enough to not see the car coming. I guess my reaction was delayed or my vision was impaired or something, because I stopped at the stop sign then pulled out into the road... But when I pulled out, I didn't see the car coming and I couldn't stop in time and it hit me."

Not everyone who experiences troubles with alcohol is an alcoholic

"That wreck changed me. Luckily the young girl I wrecked with was ok. Her car was banged up and mine was too, but we both lived. But a bigger punishment than the DWI I got was the 'what ifs' that kept going through my mind. What if she wasn't ok? What if I wasn't ok? What if I had someone else in the truck with me, like maybe my little nephew. I'd never be able to live with myself after something like that."

Buzzed driving is drunk driving

"I didn't stop drinking after the wreck, but I did stop drinking and driving. Even a little bit. I got my breathalyzer taken out my truck after the required amount of time, but now it's just a habit. If I drink a beer, I'm staying a while. If I need a few drinks to end a rough week, I ask a friend I know I can trust to be my driver. It's really not that hard. Society tells us that 'everyone does it' so it must be ok but the truth is not everyone does it and it's not ok. Responsible people don't drink and drive. They can find ways to enjoy drinking without putting others in danger. So I guess I've become responsible now."

How our ignition interlock devices can help

If you're able to recognize risky behaviors and control the urges to do them (i.e. drinking and driving) then you might not need our help. But not everyone is able to do that. Many people need help controlling themselves. Did you know you can have our breathalyzer device installed in your vehicle voluntarily? If you need help sticking to sober driving, contact us to see how our ignition interlock device products can help.