Student Voice: Plan Ahead, Speak Up.

As the holiday season approaches, families across our community are making plans to celebrate, travel, and spend time together. The Livingston High School Drug-Free Council urges everyone to make one promise this season: never drive impaired and never let someone else do it.

The numbers are heartbreaking. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 934 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in December 2024 alone. From December 2020 through December 2024, nearly 5,000 people lost their lives in these crashes. These are not just statistics; they are parents, children, friends, and neighbors whose lives were cut short.

Parents, your voice and example matter. Talk openly with your teens about the dangers of alcohol and impaired driving before they attend holiday parties or gatherings. Make your expectations clear: no drinking underage, no riding with an impaired driver, and no getting behind the wheel after drinking. Model responsible choices yourself. If your child or anyone they know needs a safe ride, promise they can call you—no lecture and no questions until they are safely home.

Adults hosting celebrations also have a responsibility. Offer nonalcoholic drinks, arrange designated drivers, and never allow an impaired guest to drive away. Take the keys, call a sober friend, or arrange a ride.

The holidays should be remembered for joyful moments, not preventable tragedies. This season, plan ahead, speak up, and look out for one another. One conversation, one safe ride, or one decision to take the keys could save a life.

Evelyn Pedraza, Livingston 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.