Recently, I had the opportunity to view a memorial dedicated to men, women and children killed by drunk drivers in Pennsylvania.

To bring awareness of the dangers of impaired driving, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and Upper Macungie Township police brought the association's DUI Victims Moving Memorial to Weis Market, Fogelsville.

State Police Troop M Bethlehem Community Services Unit Trooper Marc Allen told The Press there were two alcohol-related New Year's crashes and three between Dec. 24 and 28, 2014, in Lehigh and Northampton counties.

In addition to these five crashes, 21 people were arrested for driving under the influence, Allen said.

Drivers who operate a motor vehicle after drinking not only kill, but also injure the innocent and destroy lives.

Consuming alcohol not only affects a person's judgment to make good decisions, it affects their muscle control and vision.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion each year.

According to the NHTSA, more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2012.

Alcohol does not affect men and women equally.

"Research indicates alcohol's effects on females tend to be stronger and last longer," the AAA DUI Justice Link website states. "This is because women produce a smaller amount of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the stomach."

Young people who drink and drive take an even greater risk behind the wheel than older drivers.

"Young drivers between the ages of 16 and 19, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02 to 0.05 percent (one to two drinks), are at least seven times more likely to be killed in a crash," the website states.

Anyone who decides to drink, either at a restaurant for dinner or at a bar, should designate a non-drinking person to be the driver, give your car keys to someone who is not drinking, call a taxi, friend or family member to drive you home or drink within walking distance of your home.

Aside from the staggering financial cost of being arrested for DUI, court appearances and jail time, there are also social ramifications such as the loss of a job, ability to obtain future employment as well as embarrassment, both personally and to one's family.

It is never OK to drive after consuming alcoholic beverages.

Don't let a loved one's or neighbor's name be added to the wall of the Victims Moving Memorial because of your irresponsibility.

Don't drink and drive.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press