Advocates Tell Mississippians to Say No to Drunk Driving This Holiday Weekend

Tomorrow is considered the most dangerous day of the year for alcohol related traffic deaths. MPB's Daniel Cherry reports how anti drunk driving advocates are urging party goers to make wise choices while they ring in the New Year.

Ten years ago, Luann Moore was following her husband on her motorcycle. Suddenly a drunk driver swerved into her lane, hitting her head on.

"I presume I flew about 500 feet over the windshield of the motorcycle. When I flew over the motorcycle my left leg clipped the top of the windshield. It broke the femur of my leg. On impact I hit face first and my husband thought from the sound and the crash that I was dead."

Moore's leg had to be amputated above the knee and now she walks on a prosthetic leg. She uses her experience as an example to warn others of the dangers of drunk driving.

"I never thought of dying. When I got out of the hospital, I was so thankful because my life could have ended in a split second and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

Advocates against drinking and driving tell Mississippians who indulge over the holiday weekend to never get behind the wheel. They say call a cab, sleep it off, or if you're in the Jackson area, look up a free ride service offered by American Medical Response and SafeKids Mississippi. Mike Hughes is the Executive Director of SafeKids. He says 231 people died in alcohol related crashes in Mississippi last year and that's too many.

"It's a major problem in Mississippi because we have the highest per capita roadway death rate of any state in the nation to begin with. When you throw the alcohol in behind that it's a very, very serious situation."

Anyone in the Jackson metro area can call the free ride service between 11pm and 3am for a lift home. The number should be posted in most area bars and restaurants.

Call 601-360-0531 and AMR will send a 15 passenger van to your address. The ride is free but donations to SafeKids are encouraged.

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