Student Voice: Drunk Driving Kills

The holiday season is nigh, and with it are days and nights of happy holiday celebration. To enjoy the company of family and friends during holiday celebrations is a privilege—one that can be stolen by the risk of driving under the influence. As a three-year member of the Alto High School Drug-Free Council, it is important to me that you are aware of the dire consequences of drunk driving during the holidays in order to keep yourself and your community safe during times of celebration.

Impaired accidents rise significantly during the holiday season. According to the NHTSA, a total of 910 deaths were due to drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving festivities. Drivers ages 21-34 had the highest involvement in fatal alcohol-induced crashes during Thanksgiving of 2024. Even a slight amount of alcohol can effectively impair a driver’s ability to perform on the road—a celebratory drink during your Thanksgiving feast can make your life part of this year’s drunk driving fatality statistics.

In order to keep both yours and my own community safe, it is important that you remember to drink responsibly during this holiday season. If you know that you are under the influence, do not place yourself behind the wheel. One mistake can take lives—drunk driving spares no one.

Jaycee Crosby, Alto High School, Drug-Free Council, 2026

The Drug-Free Council program is funded by a grant from TxDOT to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in Texas.