Please, go with a friend when you drink. And have one of you stay sober. You are not only giving the gift of life to yourself but any stranger you may kill, as well. Life is precious to us all!  ~Nina from NY

I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE NEVER BEEN AFFECTED BY A DRUNK DRIVER BUT MY HUSBANDS FAMILY HAS. A DRUNK DRIVER RAN INTO HIS BROTHER IN THE AM HOUR WHILE HE WAS WALKING HOME ON THE SIDEWALK. IT CRUSHED HIS FAMILY AND ALL EMOTIONS BROKE LOOSE ESPECIALLY FOR MY HUSBAND WHOM LOVED HIM SO MUCH. THEY ALL WILL NEVER FORGIVE THE DRUNK DRIVER FOR WHAT HE DID BUT THEY DO NOT HATE HIM BECAUSE THEY DON'T BELIEVE THE DRUNK DRIVER WOKE UP THAT DAY AND SAID I'M GOING TO KILL SOMEONE TODAY. IT BREAKS MY HEART. ~Marie from CA

By the time I was 20 years old my life had been severly affected by drunk driving. I had already buried 8 friends. By the age of 25 there would be 5 more. The impact was life changing and at times overwhelming. Being so young at that time I was the invincible young adult. So were all my friends. We were all good kids, from good families with goals and a future. Athletes, scholars, career focused and college bound. Slowly that changed with each and every funeral. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about the friends I lost. All of them were responsible for their deaths. They were the drunk drivers behind the wheel. They all left behind mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Their friends were left to live in disbelief. Their futures were ended in a blink of an eye. Everytime I see that another person has been killed by a drunk driver I ache deeply in my heart. I wish I could take all those moments in time back. We didn't even get to say good bye. ~Ashley from AL

I have never lost a family member but I have a few friends who were affected. One can hardly talk and she had to quit college. Luckily her finance married her and he helps her with every day living. She uses blue green algae to beef-up her body and brain. Her brain, in the accident, banged inside of her skull and almost turned to mush. Do not drink and drive. ~Jill from OR

Drunk Driving is a selfish act, because not only is the perpetrator risking his own life, but the lives of everyone around him. Alchohol destroys lives. It shatters and ends them. Not only with drunk driving, but with alcholisim ~Marina from NJ

My name is Cheri and I was severely injured and my husband, Marc, was killed by a drunk driver on August 25, 1995. HE was the driver. The motorcycle went crashing into the woods where it would see its last days as well. Thankfully, there were no other vehicles or people involved to bear the evils of Marc's deadly decision to drive while drunk. He was so drunk, he never felt a thing. Here one minute, gone the next. I, however, still feel every single moment of that night...so do our families. Please, please make a pledge that you will never drink and drive. If not for yourself, but for those you love. ~Cheri from IN

It was in 1964, mom was driving my sister and I up a winding hill in PA. A drunk was driving down the same hill. This hill is the type that rises above itself. So when he drove his vehicle over the edge above us the truck landed on the top of our car. Mom briefly saw the truck coming and reached into the back pushing my older sister down onto the floor. Before she could do anything else we were crushed. At the hospital they told dad it was a miracle any of us were alive. My sister was badly bruised. I had been thrown out the windshield onto the road. They would be picking glass out of my toddler body for months. Actually around the age of 15 I had a piece of glass come out of my arm. Mom they said may not make it, (she did). Her forehead had been scraped out, her nose layed open with bone missing. Her chest was crushed, and had lost a lot of blood. I am told that the top of our car had to be cut off to get my mother and sister out. Mom refused to drive for more than 10 years after that. Of course the two drunken men in the truck suffered only minor bruising and had no car insurance. ~Donna from CT

Drunk driving has been proven too many times to be a deadly endeavor. I really do believe that people who engage so carelessly in the endangerment of others' lives should be, not only ticketed, but asked to spend times with the families of the hundreds upon hundreds of people who are killed each year by drunk drivers. Drunk driving is not only an issue of illegality, but an issue of complete disrespect for the lives of one's fellow human beings. ~Rina from IA

My husband is a recovering alcoholic. We have 2 great kids. We have not been directly affected, but as a mom, I feel that everyone who HAS been, affects me. I told my husband that if he did not stop drinking, and if he ever hurt a person as a result of drinking, I would not support him, and believe that he should face the stiffest of penalties. Drinking and driving affects EVERYONE. He has been sober for almost 2 years and is now an advocate, a very strong one, of staying sober..I a person kills someone as a result of drinking and driving, I believe that it is premedited murder...they chose to drink and drive...and that the stiffest of punishments should be in place. ~Sharon from MA

When I was four years old, my mother and I were hit head on by a drunk driver. The impact threw me from where I was sitting in the back seat reading a storybook into the front passenger floorboard. My mother was injured in several places, none serious however. The accident did more emotional damage to me than physical damage. I was unable to ride in a car for three years because I was so traumatized, and was unable to even try for my driver's license until I was 22 years old. Please, whatever you do, THINK before you get behind the wheel after drinking. Think about the emotional and physical damage you could end up inflicting on an innocent child. ~Leigh from SC

I live in a small, rural town. The high school-aged kids don't have a lot to do, so they spend their weekends drinking and "roadin'". Slightly over a month after I graduated from high school, a classmate was killed in a drunk driving accident. He and another guy had gone on a "beer run" and met up with a couple of girls and decided to race them. Unfortunately one of the drivers lost control and a horrible crash resulted. I would have thought that this person's family would have enough respect and intelligence to stop their drinking and driving. Alas, they did not. The following weekend after my classmate's funeral, his cousins were out drinking and driving again. I wish that there were some way to make these people understand the dangers! They are all so arrogant and think that "I can handle it! I'm not that drunk!" and off they go. I pray like crazy that when I meet a car on the road at night that the driver is stone-cold sober and in control of their vehicle. ~Angie from IL

I lost my best friend, Johnny Daniel, to a drunk driver. Forced off the road and down a large embankment, his head slammed against the window, stunning him and taking away all control of his limbs. He helplessly slid into a hill and was killed. The tragedy was far-reaching. Johnny was a great friend to me and many others, a strong Christian, and had a singing career looming ahead. Johnny didn't drink alcohol, but alcohol killed him and his dreams. Worst of all, Johnny had been married for about a year, and his wife was 8 and one half months pregnant. Johnny and his son never knew each other. The drunk driver got away and avoided arrest. They may not even remember what they did forcing Johnny off the road, but so many of us will never forget. People drink in public places and yet society doesn't see the logical fact that many vehicles that leave these bars and restaurants will have an impaired driver behind the wheel. It's time to wake up before we lose more of our fine people like Johnny Daniel for no reason. It's time for society to wake up and grow up, make drinkers responsible for their actions, and allow zero tolerance of drinking and driving. ~Bobby Gene from TN

My brother's best friend, was 2 blocks from his house "having a few beers" at a neighborhood bar. He went off the road on his way home and flipped his truck. A policeman not far away tried to rescue him. While the cop tried to pry the door open, the truck was on fire. Larry Joe was inside screaming "don't let me die". "I'm burning, it hurts." By the time they got him out, he was burnt to a char, but still alive. He lived for 24 hours on pain killer that put him in a coma so that he wouldn't feel his poor body with 80% of his skin missing. He had everything. A beautiful wife who stayed at home and raised their two beautiful daughters. One in High School the other a Freshman in College. They had a new house and new cars. Life was good until that day. Since everything was new, Caroline didn't get much when she had to sell everything. Some things she sold, she still owed on. There will be no college for the older daughter or the younger daughter. They work now to help their mother get out of debt including their father's funeral expenses. There lives are changed for ever because of a "couple of beers." ~Laura from TX

On weekend evenings, after 9 p.m., it has become too dangerous to take to the streets because the percentage of drunk drivers is so high. Because of this, my inexperienced teenage driver is not allowed to drive to her friend's house just a few blocks away after dark on Saturday nights. Drunk driver's not only put us in danger when we're on the road, they limit our acces to the public roads by rendering them too dangerous to travel. ~Jackie from AZ

Drunk driving is not just alcohol induced. My aunt had a chronic back problem and took prescription pills. She was drunk on those pills that she said she "needed". She hit a median and was killed while driving home one night. I saw her at the week before she died and commented to my mom (Gayle's sister)that Gayle needed to stop taking the pills. My mom said "the docter gave them to her so he must know what he's doing". I am a nurse and strongly disagree but I did nothing. A week later she was dead. I don't honestly think I could have done something since I was not that close to her. I am a rehabilitation nurse and work with many workers compensation patients with chronic pain problems. There is always going to be that one-two physicians in any given area who prescribe oxycontin, methadone, etc. But then because its a prescription medication these patients feel it can't be harmful. I put 1-2 patients a year in a detoxification program that found eventually there is a problem. I have seen patients that were slurring their words in the physicians office and then drove home from the appointment. Scary and the physician who gives the medications is not even as responsible as the bartender who works in the local pub to demand these patients stop driving while on these medications. It may be inconveniant but it would save lives. I believe prescription drug abuse is a hidden cause of accidents/deaths and something needs to be done. ~Patti from FL

I didn't see it coming. I was driving back from a meeting to the newspaper where I worked as a reporter when the drunk hit me. I don't remember the crash, just waking up on the side of the road in pain. I crawled out of the car window. I had a concussion, internal bleeding, broken ribs, cuts and bruises and broken teeth. The driver, who had once before been in a coma after driving drunk, was fine.There were two other people in the car -- one a state trooper's son -- who were uninjured. Thank God I didn't become a statistic. I always let people know my strong feelings against drinking and driving. ~Tammy from AR

My brother was killed by a drunk driver when I was just 12. I was the one that found him at the scene of the crime. It lives forever in my mind. The person that killed my brother got 1 night in jail. This was his third offense at the time. He had no insurance and the car wasn't even his. He never felt any remorse. Years later, I was a successful tupperware manager heading to Pittsburgh for a conference with other managers. In the van, we got on the subject of drunk driving. I told my story. One manager started crying. She was the girl in the car that killed him. She said that she wished she would have taken the keys from him and drove herself, but she apparantly never had enough strength or courage. I wish she would have. ~Stacy from PA

My uncle and aunt were killed by a drunk driver in July, 1984. Our lives were changed forever. There should be stricter laws & penalties to get & keep these people off the roads. This was such a senseless tragedy, & it still hurts deeply to even think about it. ~Vickie from MS

Everytime I read a story about a precious life cut short by a drunk driver, I silently thank those of you who take the time to share your tragic stories. Because of folks like you who are willing to publically grieve, the issue of drunk driving has finally gotten the attention and stiff penalties it deserves. I can only imagine the countless lives you have saved through your selflessness. I look into the faces of my own little children and know that they will someday be safer behind the wheel because of you. Please continue to share; please continue to bring to light the senseless loss of the future that occurs when people choose to mix alcohol and driving; please know that those of us who thankfully haven't been touched by this horrible tragedy truly support you. Your pain is universally shared, and your stories serve as a testament to the lives of those taken. ~Misty from PA

Drunk driving is a difficult subject to talk to a child about...It is even a more difficult subject when it facilitates a child's first experience with the death of a peer. I know this from personal experience...When I was in 6th grade I lost a young friend to the hapless negligence of a drunk driver. Greg Puzio was the smart kid...the shy kid...but above all else he was the nicest kid in my class. He had the softest heart and a smile to go along with it...I had moved away from the old neighborhood a year prior to his death and had lost touch with him...something I will always regret. One night he went out fishing and tried to cross a highway...he never made it...One of my classmates bought me the Daily Record and all I can remember is the shock of seeing his kind freckled face and the headline Young boy killed by Drunk Driver. I didn't know what it meant, but I knew that it meant I'd never see Greg Puzio again...At the time ! there was no SADD or organiztions for kids to learn about drunk driving. All we had was our parents doing their best to convey the crime and what it meant in our lives...I think most of all the mark it left was proactivity because it made me joing SADD in highschool and sign my Prom Pledge with definitive fervor. But most of all it keeps alive the memory of a 12 year old boy who never grew up to be a man...but did live on to be a legacy to all us kids who once called him our friend... ~Danielle from FL

I think drunk driving is out of control. Even with all the ads and education out there, so many people still do it. I don't know if they are embarassed to ask someone for a ride or too drunk to even realize what their actions may do. Most people will say "I am okay to drive" or I don't feel drunk"..Most people don't realize the subtle effects of alcohol until its too late. Even if you only had a few beers or a mixed drink or two-it impairs you. I think it is terrible so many innocent lives are lost because someone does'nt want to look like a "wimp" or that they cannot "handle" their alcohol..How would they handle it if they took an innocent person's life? ~Deanna from TN

Several years ago a good friend of mine was an up and coming young attorney with everything going for him. His practice was becoming known and he was getting more work than he could handle, just a real brilliant young man with a wife and two small children. He was very athletic and loved to ride bicycles with his male friends on weekends. They would all meet and pedal their bikes over 100 miles in a day. Early one Sunday morning he was riding to meet his friends for their monthly ride through the Texas Hill Country, beautiful scenery. All of a sudden a car came up from behind and hit him from the rear. He was thrown many yards from the bicycle and the driver of the car just kept going. It was quite some time before he was found by another driver because it was so early in the morning and there weren't that many people up at that hour. He was rushed to the hospital with almost every bone in his body broken, but most serious was a head injury. The helmet he was wearing was cracked in half and his head received a terrible impact. They finally found the driver of the car and apprehended her. Crazy as it seems, she was the wife of a police officer and driving drunk from her "boyfriend's" home to get home before her husband got off his shift. She was not even concerned about the accident because, as she stated, she "is the wife of a cop." While my friend had many surgeries, pain and suffering and loss of memory, etc., this lady was going through the legal procedures and was basically given a slap on the hand and I believe a month, not more, in jail. My friend is in a nursing home and has been for several years, and will be for the rest of his life. His mind is that of about an 8-10 year old. He does not remember being the terrific attorney he was, nor does he remember his wife and children. His wife has since divorced him and he just lives from day to day in this sort of child-like state. His speech is difficult and it is very hard to communicate with him and then only on an approximately 8 year old level. It hurts me (and all his friends) deeply that a person can do this to another, and because of who she is, or who she knows, the punishment is nothing, but my friend's punishment for just wanting to enjoy his ride with his buddies through the beautiful hill country morning, is a life of frustration, pain, loss of his family, and living with 24 hour care and unable to communicate or remember any of his past life. This lady really took his life that morning, but unfortunately it's not considered murder. A drunk driver can completely devistate not only the person or persons they inflict injury upon, but also the family, friends, co-workers, or anyone who knew them as they were also. He is stuck in a non-existent life and her life goes on as usual. It is just hard for me to believe that this can happen to such a wonderful man. I believe drunk drivers, whether there is an accident or not, once caught should be sentenced to long periods of helping those in nursing homes, hospitals, or the families of children killed by drunk drivers to help them get on with their lives. I think hours and hours of community service with the relatives and victims of their decision to drink and drive should be enforced strictly. They should never be allowed to forget their drunkeness, ever. They have to see with their own now sober eyes what their drinking has caused. ~Patricia from TX

Four years ago my oldest son was sitting at a red light when all of a sudden a huge truck slammed into the front of his tiny Honda Civic. the force was so hard it pushed his car backward onto some train tracks. As life would have it, a fast moving train came around the corner. My son was still dazed from the crash and had it not been for wonderful good citizens he would not be alive today. they jumped from their cars in time to extarct him from the wreck and push the car futher back off the tracks. the driver of the big truck was not injured and tried to run away, but other citizens tackled him. this man was drunk, and ran because he had several other drunk driving convictions....... the man went to jail. My son, after much thearpy is doing alright, he will always suffer from back and neck pain and awful headaches. but he is ALIVE! I am so thankful. My cousin was not so lucky...... his daughter was killed by a drunk! driver in Oklahoma several years ago... the scars from that we will never heal from. If people want to drink..... they need to do it at home. ~Mary Beth from CA

I think what you are doing is great we ned more programs to keep drunk drivres off the roads and I am very sorry for anyone who has had a loss due to this , whenever we go out we always have designated driver or will spend the night. ~Pam from NY

Drunk Driving is totally out of control.I firmly believe if our laws were enforced at the
court level that people may think twice about driving.I think to many people get off when they go to
court, only to repeat. That helps no one. It just allows them to continue on.
My son was only 19 when he was killed, and we all have been given our sentence. Its about time that
the Judges proceed to give out a few sentencings like we got. ~Bev from ONLINE

Thank you so much for sending me the phone card and telling me about your site.  What a great idea it is!  You've done a fantastic job. ~Sandra from ONLINE