Bravo to Lake County! After attending the Board of Supervisors Meeting on Nov. 17, I felt compelled to write about the impressive level of commitment from your community and the whole spectrum of approaches being used to address impaired driving – education, training, treatment, punishment, accountability. This is a community problem and it takes a whole community to work together. Lake County certainly “gets it”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 1,600 Californians are killed and 32,000 are injured annually in impaired crashes. Think of that for a moment – that is highway slaughter! On average, someone is killed on our nation’s highways every 30 minutes because a conscious choice is made to drive after consuming alcohol or using other drugs. MADD is not against drinking, we are against the irresponsible choice to drive a vehicle while impaired. It takes less time to make the right choice than to face the consequences of using poor judgment.

Team DUI appears to be making a huge impact on Lake County. Many agencies and volunteers are involved in helping to keep Lake County a safe place. On behalf of MADD, thank you to the show of unity, commitment and determination in addressing a huge problem.

Windsor resident Lynn R. Darst is a victim advocate with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.