As we segue from Novembers National Commemorations (Native American Heritage Month; Tie One on for Safety; & International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day), Decembers focus is Impaired Driving Prevention. Impaired Driving occurs when alcohol and other drugs are used in excess or incorrectly, and impairs driving by altering the brain’s ability to function. A driver commits the CRIME (of impaired driving) whenever his or her ability to safely operate a vehicle is affected by use of illegal drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications, or by having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dl (grams per deciliter) or higher.
VICTIMS of impaired driving crashes are not hurt accidentally. They are victims of a CRIME that is the result of poor choices made by a driver. If You Are the Survivor of an Impaired Driving Crime you may be affected emotionally and physically. If a loved one has been killed, this sudden, traumatic death can feel unlike any other loss you have ever experienced. Coming to terms with such profound grief will take time. The injustice of the death and involvement with the criminal justice system as a result of the crime may also complicate your grief. Don’t hesitate to seek help when you feel overwhelmed. Whether its an Impaired Driving Crime or another Crime which you have been victimized by.
MWT OVC Victim Services program is here to assist you through advocacy, referrals & specific support services (508)364-3981. Two additional resources also follow for your information: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) (781)328-0002, Hotline (877)-623-3435 and Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA ),1(844) 878-6682, www.mass.gov/mova.
