Assemblyman John Lemondes (R,C-LaFayette) attended a driving safety event at Auburn High School yesterday. The event was put on by the Auburn Police Department and highlighted the dangers of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and impaired by other drugs. According to the state police^[1], underage impaired driving has increased in recent years with more than 5,000 drivers under 21 being arrested for DWI last year. Drunk drivers as a whole cause more than 17,000 deaths each year. That equals 310 funerals each week or one DWI-related death every 30 minutes. Motor vehicle crashes are also the number one cause of death for 15- to 20-year-olds, accounting for 14% of all fatal crashes. Lemondes believes events like this are imperative to making sure underage drivers are safe and responsible as they travel.

“It seems as if every time you turn on the news, there’s another story about the consequences of underage drinking and driving,” said Lemondes. “As parents, teachers and students it's time for us to say enough is enough. Events like this are so important for making sure young people have resources and tools at their disposal so they will not find themselves in these dangerous situations. I want to thank the Auburn Police Department, Auburn Fire Department and Auburn High School for putting this event on and keeping our students safe.”

^[1] https://troopers.ny.gov/impaired-driving