Safe Rides: Darien Students Preventing Tragedy or Condoning Drinking?
NEIRAD enilno edition
During adolescence, kids, especially teens, feel invincible; as if the outside world cannot enter their youthful Utopia. A part of one’s high school years, more often than not, involves experimenting with drugs and alcohol: an experiment that according to SADD, (Students Against Destructive Decisions) more than 75% of high school students will perform before they are handed their diploma. This has become just a part of high school. It is frowned upon by parents, and adults alike, but only a naïve person would be able to believe that it can be stopped in the near future.
Connecticut, especially Fairfield County, is known for its excess of underage drinkers. According to the Connecticut General Assembly, the average age for first time drinkers in Fairfield County is 11.7 years. Teen alcohol consumption in Connecticut is 20% above the national average. Yet, of the 11 million teens who drink, how many die from alcohol poisoning? In a study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, between 1996 and 1998, two percent of the approximately 1,400 annual deaths from alcohol poisoning, or deaths related to drinking alcohol (excusing driving fatalities) involved underage drinkers. That is approximately 28 deaths. Though to the families of the victims, their child was not just a statistic, the shocking reality is that this number is only a fraction of the deaths related to the bigger issue; not drinking, but drinking and driving.
In 2007, there were 15, 387 alcohol related motor vehicle deaths in the United States, making up 37 percent of traffic fatalities. In 2006, of Connecticut’s 301 traffic fatalities; 40 percent (121 deaths) were related to alcohol. These harrowing statistics make one wonder, how can it be stopped? Cheaper cab fare? More people stepping up to be a designated driver?
Yes, both of these could work, however for teens low on cash and the new Connecticut driving laws they are difficult to bring to fruition. According to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, the new laws prohibit teens under 18 to drive past 11 p.m. and don’t allow passengers (besides immediate family) for one year after they have received their license. However, there is a silver lining to all the negatives.
A program run by the Red Cross provides free, secure rides to teens who otherwise may have stepped into a vehicle in an intoxicated state. This program, appropriately called, “Safe Rides” is operated by Darien students, and parents. It is available every Friday and Saturday night.
According to the Red Cross, Safe Rides is designed to, “combat the dangers of at-risk situations by providing youth with a "Safe Ride" home - no questions asked.”
The Red Cross defines at-risk situations as issues like, “babysitters who might not be comfortable getting in a car with a parent who had been drinking; students whose designated driver(s) left early or became otherwise engaged; kids who are hanging with their friends and just have a gut feeling the scene is no longer safe; and teens who should not be driving under the influence.” An upperclassman picks the student up anywhere in Darien, and drives them home. The Safe Rides program understands that teens will make mistakes, but instead of trying to achieve the nearly impossible goal of ending teen drinking, they make a successful effort of reducing the more fatal issue that arrives from consuming alcohol.
Many high school students have a dreaded “curfew”, and if it means being grounded, some may choose driving a car while intoxicated, or driving with a fellow intoxicated friend, to be able to get home on time, but with Safe Rides this issue can be combated by just simply calling for a ride home. Senior, Emily LaMantia said that, “I know some people that will take any ride home if it means they get home on time. This sometimes can mean driving with someone who may be putting your life at risk. I also know many kids that use Safe Rides as a solution to this problem, and it puts me at ease knowing DHS students aren’t putting their lives on the line, especially when it can be prevented by just calling Safe Rides.”
The program also can relieve parents stress. If a parent asks their child how they are getting home, and they respond, “Safe Rides,” the parents can rest easy that their child is under good care and protection, and will always be a passenger in a vehicle with a sober driver. Some teens may feel too embarrassed to call their parents to pick them up if they are uncomfortable in an environment with risky behavior.
Parents can also know that their child can call Safe Rides to pick them up if they don’t feel comfortable calling a guardian. Safe Rides is a program that cares about the safety of the students, whether it means saving their life on the road or saving them from participating in something they don’t feel comfortable with, they will always be there to help a teen in need.
Not only does Safe Rides improve the safety of Darien High School students, it also makes the roads safer for other drivers. The number of intoxicated drivers endangering the otherwise safe streets of Darien is lowered by use of Safe Rides.
Helen Gibney agrees that, “Not only are people driving drunk putting their own life at risk, they are also putting innocent people at risk too” Adding more drivers on the road that are sober, and less that are under the influence is a step towards ending drunk driving all together. After all, why would anyone want to drive a car drunk; risking your life, the lives of others, and a criminal charge; when a free driving service is just a call away?
This program sounds like possibly one of the most influential programs that Darien students can be involved with on such a local level. Of all the clubs and activities that Darien High School students participate in “Safe Rides” may have the most close-to-home impact. So why is it that some people still associate it with a negative connotation? Some believe that the group condones drinking, and gives adolescents another reason to think that it is okay to drink. But this idea is ludicrous. Teens will drink; so rather than sit there blinded and thinking it can be stopped, people should focus on the more important issue which is the fatalities caused from driving under the influence. Safe Rides isn’t saying it’s okay to drink, it is saying that if you make a mistake, there are other ways to fix it than to risk your life. Parents, and administrators who think that Safe Rides is condoing drinking are seriously misconstrued, and hopefully their reality check won’t be the death of their child or student. Members of Safe Rides could be saving the lives of one of their classmates and not even know it, yet the fact that the group relates to underage drinking still causes some to believe it is not a legitimate activity. If a student is about to step into a vehicle intoxicated, they shouldn’t worry about the judgments passed by parents and administrators alike, they should just call Safe Rides, or they may not live to regret it.
Safe Rides is open almost every weekend of the school year from ten at night, until two in the morning. The wait for a car to come depends on how busy the night is, but should never be too long. Safe Rides officer Meghan Brindley says that, “we will always be there to pick you up, and it is completely anonymous. We ask for your name, but the people manning the phones keep that information private, and the members who pick you up also keep that private as well.” Safe Rides will also not ask you the reason why you are using their service, just call and be assured you will have a “safe ride” home. Brindley also states that, “We just want to do our part in keeping the students at DHS, as well as other drivers safe. To lose a friend or fellow student to drunk driving would be tragic, so we want to make sure that doesn’t need to happen.” With Safe Rides, you call; they’ll come. No need to worry about a ride, or your life.
Safe Rides-203-655-6551
