BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — December is upon us, and North Dakotans are already getting into a holiday state of mind. This means that people are gearing up for what comes with the holiday spirit like gift-giving, family meals, and of course, drinking. But sometimes, a few holiday drinks can mean a deadly drive home.
“I think I was a sophomore in high school when we lost one of our schoolmates,” recalls District 9 Representative Jayme Davis. “And that was devastating. And you think you have so much time, and it can be taken so quickly. It’s unnecessary.”
“There was a family in Mandaree, where I’m from,” says District 4A Representative Lisa Finley-Deville, “where they were working, and two of them got killed on the road ’cause they overcorrected and rolled into the ditch.”
These stories may be hard to hear, but they happen every year during the holidays.
“I don’t know of anybody that it hasn’t touched honestly,” says Representative Davis. “In one way or another, whether it’s the law enforcement side, or losing a family member or a loved one.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation says that from now until New Year’s, law enforcement sees the highest incidents of drunk driving, making the holidays the deadliest time to drive. From 2018 to 2022, close to 5,000 people died in alcohol-related crashes in December alone.
“The safety during this time of the year,” says Representative Davis. “We like to go and celebrate our holidays and be together with family, which I think is really great and really important, but the safety of it. Making sure we get home safe. Making sure we make it to our destination safely, and so, what does that take?”
And this heavily affects tribal lands, where access to ride-shares and public transportation is limited. That’s why law enforcement agencies on MHA are continuing “Don’t Shatter the Dream,” a DUI prevention program happening on tribal lands.
“In the urban areas,” says Representative Davis, “they have that luxury of being able to call an Uber or a Lyft. Back home, we have to call aunty or uncle, or maybe sister or brother, to come and make sure we get home safe.”
Don’t Shatter the Dream was first launched in 2009 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs — and the program continues today, with tribal law enforcement announcing that they will once again be setting up DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols on tribal lands. It starts next week, and will continue until the new year.
“Saving lives,” says Representative Davis. “I think that’s what it comes down to. Our police aren’t out there just because they want to be. This is their job. Their job is to make sure that people are safe. Our communities are safe. And obviously, there’s a need during this time.”
“Life is sacred,” says Representative Finley-Deville. “And so, we need to get home to our families and take care of them.”
