Driving under the influence has always been an issue on our roads, but a recent surge in DUI incidents has compelled authorities to adopt a much broader approach. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 37 people in the U.S. lose their lives due to drunk or reckless driving every day, this means one person every 39 minutes.
Unfortunately, according to the NHTSA, drinking and driving is especially common during the holidays. For example, Lower Merion Township firefighter Thomas Royds lost his life to an intoxicated driver in November 2022. This incident not only claimed this Royds’ life, but left two other firefighters and a state trooper with severe physical injuries. Another tragic example is Jessica Easter, who tragically lost her life before her 17th birthday. According to Patch News, Stephen Meloni, a former student at LMSD, decided to “do a test lap around the block to see if he was too drunk to drive.” Leaving her dead before the ambulance could arrive.
Furthermore, driving under the influence poses a grave risk not only to the driver, but to those who they share the road with. Just four years ago, a family of three fell victim to an accident caused by a drunk driver on Conshohocken Road. As stated by the family, the accident left them with “emotional trauma… sleepless nights, and stress even when driving through their neighborhood.”
In response to the recent surge in intoxicated drivers, with at least 9 reported cases in the past months, the Lower Merion Township Police Department has introduced the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” incentive. This new approach to DUI involves our city’s police patrolling specific neighborhoods to identify behaviors that don’t represent safe driving, such as driving while intoxicated or under the influence of controlled substances.
Beginning October 5, the LMPD will be launching the Citizens Police Academy, an eight-week program open to citizens ages 18 and above. This program provides participants with hands-on experience with crime operations and developing effective partnerships with law enforcement, including a section on how to deal with intoxicated drivers. According to the department’s website, this program teaches citizens how to “have an understanding of police work” and “develop effective police partnership.”
These incidents represent a few of the numerous DUI-related accidents in LM and contribute to the over 9,000 incidents reported in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania DUI Association. PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services also warns that driving under the influence can result in fines ranging from $300 to $10,000 and an 18-month license probation.
In addition, Lower Merion Township is taking further steps to combat DUI. Their commitment to road safety is reinforced by a recent grant acceptance from PennDOT of about $65,000. This sizable grant will be allocated towards “sobriety checkpoints and DUI awareness programs,” as stated by Police Superintendent Mike McGrath. With the support of state agencies, LM is sparing no effort in ensuring road safety. Lower Merion Township’s Police Captain Eugene Pasternak also added that DUI enforcement has “always [been] a priority for [the police] agency.”
It is important to note that while alcohol itself is not inherently harmful to adults, responsible consumption is crucial. However, it is illegal and dangerous for those under the age of 21. We as students—but more importantly as drivers—need to be much more aware that our actions have consequences. Choosing to drive while intoxicated is risky not just to yourself, but to others around you.
