The Dumbest Decision You Could Ever Make
Another senseless tragedy leads me to believe that there are few things dumber than getting drunk and deciding to drive.
I'm going to try not to lecture anyone today.
I'm going to try, but I'm not promising anything.
I'm not promising anything because, frankly, I'm sick to my stomach. And I'm sick of this happening.
When I was 18 years old, which was 20 years ago, my parents came into my bedroom one summer morning and told me that a classmate–a friend–had passed away, tragically, after he left a party on his motorcycle and never made it to his destination.
I had seen him the night before. I knew.
Fast-forward 20 years later. I grabbed my phone just for a moment, checking Facebook.
Amazing how receiving the same sort of news has changed.
Three people, whom I knew, were senselessly killed on Interstate 94 west of my former town of West Fargo. The driver who caused the accident was headed the wrong way in the wrong lane.
I had driven that stretch before. I knew.
Folks, you can play with fireworks. You can not wear your lifejacket while boating. You can even decide to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
But the dumbest decision you could ever make is getting behind the wheel after "having a few."
And the fact that it's 2012, and we know now so much more than we knew then, in 1992, and people STILL do it, is beyond my simple mind's level of comprehension.
Yet, with cabs, buses, trains and cell phones, we decide to put our fate, and the fate of others, in our own hands.
We've seen too much evidence. The worst things can happen. DUI related vehicular homicides are still responsible for one-third of all traffic fatalities in Minnesota.
Ask the Deckert family. Ask the parents of the boy from Buffalo, killed by a man from St. Michael. Ask the Mickelsons and Deutschers, who lost their son, daughter and granddaughter, and another unborn grandchild in North Dakota Saturday night.
It's senseless. And it's sick.
To quote a classic movie: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore."
j money
12:54 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
True true
Danielle Cabot
1:59 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
It breaks my heart every time. So sorry for your loss, Mike.
MG Resident
1:21 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I agree 100% with this story. There is absolutely no reason to drink and drive!
My wife and friends of ours all went to see the Kenny & Tim concert... My wife offered to be sober cab, we take it in turns and trade off this role if and when we go out between us.
Maybe bars should have breathalyzer kits
Jonie Papa Richardson
8:07 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
I traveled from the top of ND to St. Michael yesterday. I had heard of this tragedy on KX News the day before. When I got to that part of 94 near Jamestown my heart just stopped and the tears flowed uncontrollably. May God hold the family members in the palm of his hand during this very difficult time.
Laura
10:13 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
So sad, and so senseless.... these accidents are so preventable. Making the decision to not drink and drive shouldn't be that difficult, but unfortunately, for some, it is.
Thank you, Mike, for a heart-felt article. Like one of the commenters above, I, too, feel the pain when driving past these tragic spots in the road.
Kris Olson
11:31 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Completely agree with you, Mike. The information about Wright County being one of the worst offenders is especially disturbing, especially since we have the Sober Cab program (http://www.your-duiq.com/sobercab.asp). If people don't have a designated driver available, they should consider frequenting one of these establishments so they have an option to get home safely and responsibly!
Mike Schoemer
12:10 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Great point, Kris!
M.H.
8:39 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Does Minnetonka or surrounding cities also have the Sober Cab Program?
SM
5:39 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
There's many sober cab programs like DWI ride home etc. They just need advance notice sometimes but they'll drive your car home. Cheaper than prison sentence or death.