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Santa Fe County DWI Program recently sponsored a writing contest at Pojoaque Intermediate School. The editorials they wrote are part of a lesson on rules and laws entitled Taking a Stand on Drunk Driving. The eight winners of the contest will read their compositions on the radio (KDCE 950 AM and 100.7 FM in Espanola) on Thursday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m.

“…when I visit my Dad it’s hard to see him behind a glass window wearing an orange jumpsuit…” writes “Rose”, she wishes to be anonymous, in her winning composition entitled Start to Think Before You Drink. She is one of the eight winners. “Rose” continues, that she is “happy in a way” that her father is in jail because he could have killed someone or himself. She implores her readers to “…start to think and don’t drink. Please I am just a little girl without her father, hoping this doesn’t happen to any other child.”

All fourth-graders, a total of 175 students age 9-years-old and 10-years-old, wrote editorials as part of their alcohol use and abuse prevention curriculum. Ms. Roybal teaches the Protecting Me, Protecting You curriculum to all fourth-grade students at the Pojoaque Intermediate School.

“Research shows that early intervention is vitally important for kids to avoid and resist risky behavior like binge drinking alcohol and drinking and driving. These students have done a remarkable job of expressing the impact and consequences alcohol over-use has on their lives and offering their unique perspective,” said Diolinda Roybal Santa Fe County DWI Program Certified Prevention Specialist.

Drunk driving has fatal consequences. We can all do our part in keeping our streets safe. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact police immediately, call 9-1-1 or dial #DWI (#394) and report what you see. You could save a life.

For more information, contact Peter Olson, Santa Fe County DWI Program (505) 992-9844 orpolson@santafecountynm.gov.