ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca has seen the faces.
He has seen the victims and their family members whose lives were changed or ended when they or someone else drove drunk or chemically impaired.
They are the faces of those whose lives were changed or lost because someone got behind the wheel and lost control after they first lost their better judgment.
There was Roca at a news conference helping to announce the city’s joint six-week media campaign with Blue Zones Project-Allentown on Monday afternoon at City Hall, imploring people not to drive drunk, particularly during the coming holiday season.
“I've had incidents where I've seen the impact that it has — it's life changing,” Roca said.
"It’s not only something that’s life changing for the officer who experiences the trauma of seeing something like that, but it impacts the family members associated with it.
“I’m not being the Grinch here and saying don’t enjoy the holidays. I’m saying do so responsibly if you choose to drink.”
Blue Zones Project-Allentown is a community initiative launched by Lehigh Valley Health Network and the City of Allentown to make healthy choices easier for its residents.
"But buzzed driving is drunk driving. People still need to be reminded."Brooke Griffiths, executive director, Blue Zones Project-Allentown
Blue Zones uses an evidence-based approach to create a healthier environment in places where people live, work and play by making policy and environmental changes, with the goal of improving well-being, reducing health care costs and boosting the local economy.
“We’re kicking off this campaign with Allentown to encourage moderate alcohol consumption and safe driving during the holiday seasons,” said Brooke Griffiths, Blue Zones-Allentown executive director.
“This is just a reminder going into the holidays.”
The campaign encourages residents to take simple, proactive steps to protect themselves and others during the holidays regarding alcohol consumption and driving:
Plan a safe ride home before drinking.
- Look out for loved ones and intervene if someone needs help.
- Create environments where health, not excess, is the norm.
- The campaign will run from Monday through New Year’s Day.
The Blue Zones/City of Allentown campaign comes at a critical time approaching the holidays.
The City of Allentown reports 261 DUI arrests this year and 121 crashes involving DUI, 78% of which involved alcohol.
The data serves as an alarming reminder of the risks associated with impaired driving.
Alcohol misuse remains one of the most preventable contributors to emergency room visits, fatal car crashes and public safety incidents.
“The best thing we can do is work with you — the residents of the City of Allentown and the County of Lehigh — to make our city a little bit safer,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk.
“I’m going to ask our residents out there to join me in making a pledge — a Blue Zones pledge — to consume in a mindful way … when you have a drink, that you do so in a responsible way.”
While not drinking and driving seems like something of which people shouldn’t need to be reminded, every little bit that may increase drivers’ safety helps, Griffths said.
“Sometimes, people think, ‘I just had one drink, so I’m OK to drive,’” she said. “But buzzed driving is drunk driving. People still need to be reminded.
“And there’s really no reason to take the risk of harming yourself or others. We have Uber and Lyft, and friends and family that can drive you. We’re just reminding people it’s not just about them. There are loved ones who are waiting for them to show up for the holiday alive and well. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for them.”
