Public Safety: Think Before You Drive This Holiday Season

By District Attorney Shannon Wallace

According to recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28% of all traffic-related deaths involved drivers impaired by alcohol, and 16% of all crashes involved drivers impaired by legal and illegal drugs. In Cherokee County, the number of traffic-related deaths or serious injuries increased by 150% in the past two years, with 80% of serious injury and vehicular homicide cases closed thus far in 2019 involving alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medications.

We have so much to celebrate this time of year, and I personally look forward to holiday gatherings with friends and family. If you have consumed alcohol at a holiday party, remember to make safe decisions before operating a motor vehicle.

Many people are unaware of how legally prescribed medications combined with alcohol can seriously affect their driving. Did you know that having a glass of wine while taking cough syrup can increase your impairment level? Also, did you know that ADHD medications can compound the effects of alcohol?

Some medications are known to impair motor functions, cause drowsiness, and/or increase the effects of alcohol, including allergy medications (such as Benadryl and Claritin), antidepressants, ADHD medications, anxiety medications, cough syrups, mood stabilizers, muscle relaxers, opioid pain killers, and sleep aids. For this reason, always talk to your doctor before combining alcohol with any prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Besides legal medications, many drivers involved in fatal or serious injury crashes test positive for drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and opioids. Not only are these drugs illegal to possess, they also cause serious impairment with respect to operating a motor vehicle.

Whenever there is a serious injury crash or vehicular homicide in Cherokee County, the District Attorneys Office collaborates with the Cherokee Sheriffs Office and all police departments throughout the investigation and prosecution.

The legal consequences for committing these crimes are very serious. For example, first-degree vehicular homicide carries a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment, and first-degree serious injury by vehicle carries a minimum of one year and a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment. One bad decision can destroy your life and the lives of others.

During this joyous time of year, please stop and think before driving a motor vehicle. Have you consumed alcohol? Taken illegal drugs? Taken a prescription that might cause impairment or increase the effects of alcohol consumption? If so, dont get behind the wheel and drive.

Lets keep our community safe. Instead of driving impaired (or riding with someone who is impaired), ride home with a sober friend, ride share program, or taxi service. Some local police departments offer another option. If you live within the city limits of Canton, you can call 678-493-4080 and ask a Canton police officer for a ride home. Likewise, Woodstock Police Departments Operation Safe Ride offers rides on New Years Eve by calling 404-740-4502.

The District Attorneys Office wishes you safe travels and a joyous holiday!