AUSTIN (KXAN) — You might be getting excited about the holiday parties and celebrations filling your calendar over the next few weeks, but law enforcement is urging you also to make a plan for a sober ride home.
KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes spoke with Pam Edwards, her son died 10 years ago after he drove home drunk.
"You don't get a redo, you don't get a second chance," Edwards said.
Dillon, 25, was married with two kids when he made a decision that changed their lives forever.
"I want to share this story from a mom's perspective and how his choice to drink and drive not only took his precious life, but how it's impacted my life and the life of his loved ones. It was at 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2014, when I received a knock on my front door and I look outside the window and I see a DPS trooper's patrol car in my driveway, " Edwards said.
Dillon's blood alcohol level was 1.6 when he got behind the wheel of his work truck, his mom said.
"No parent should ever have to see their child lying lifeless in a casket because they chose to drink and drive. I stood over him in that moment, remembering the day that he was born and how I held him for the first time, and in this same moment, here I am standing over him, holding him as he has left this world," Edwards said.
We met Pam at a Texas Department of Transportation exhibit that simulated drunk driving. TxDOT, Texas Department of Public Safety, Austin Police Department, and Austin-Travis County EMS are pleading with Texans to plan out their safe ride home during the holidays.
"We want everyone to spend their holidays celebrating with friends and family, not mourning them," said Monique Campa with TxDOT.
One in four traffic deaths in Texas last year involved drunk driving, and that number increases to 28% during the holidays. When asked, the majority of people who drive after drinking say they do so after being at a friend’s house.
"Last year, there were 49,970 traffic crashes in Texas during the holiday period, resulting in 379 deaths and 1,566 serious injuries. Of those crashes, 28% of them involved a drunk driver," said Tucker Ferguson with TxDOT.
Over the holiday season, law enforcement assigns more officers to patrol for suspected drunk drivers, hoping to prevent another tragedy.
"I've spent almost my entire adult life working in EMS. I have responded to literally 1000s of crashes every day. We respond to devastating scenes, and we see people on the worst day of their life, or the last day of their life, far too often." ATCEMS Captain Christa Stedman said.
A pain Pam knows all too well.
"I never dreamed that I would ever have to write the obituary of one of my children. It has been one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do," Edwards said.
TxDOT says drunk driving-related deadly crashes were down 12% in 2023, compared to 2022.
A trend they hope this initiative will continue to decrease.
