Preventing drinking and driving

We’ve heard it time and time again, about the importance of not drinking and driving. There are still countless accidents each year because of it. Dr. Cioffi and University Surgical Associates are currently running a PSA type of campaign against drinking and driving.

“In this country, someone dies every 32 minutes as a result of drinking and driving,” Dr. Cioffi.

Dr. Cioffi went out to St. Louis to visit some other doctors who have had successful drinking and driving PSAs, and decided to bring them back to Rhode Island. He said that the response from the public has been quite good, with the drunk driver commercials have a great impact. Friends and other parents have commented to Dr. Cioffi about the commercials, as well as complete strangers. 

Dr. Cioffi wants people to keep the following in mind over the holiday weekend.

“As I say in the commercial, it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep friends and family off the road. Designate a driver. But it’s not only about what could happen to you but what could happen to someone else.“

National studies have shown that spreading awareness like this has helped. 

Dr. Cioffi says “In the last decade, the rate of drunk driving fatalities per 100,000 population has decreased 48% nationally, and 63% among those under 21. These statistics and others are positive indicators of the gains being made to fight drunk driving.  We’ve still got a long way to go but we are headed in the right direction.”