Health Promotion

Impaired Driving Prevention Month

December – Protecting Marines, Shipmates, and Mission Readiness

Every December, the United States observes National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a nationwide reminder that alcohol misuse, drug use, fatigue, and distraction behind the wheel have life-altering consequences. For Marines and all active-duty personnel, unsafe driving is not just a personal risk, it is a readiness issue that affects the entire unit and the mission.

This month reinforces the message we push year-round: Your safety matters. Your decisions matter. Your life matters.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving: A Preventable Threat to Readiness

Alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the deadliest, and most preventable, hazards on the road.

• In 2020, more than 11,600 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, about 30% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S.
• One person dies every 45 minutes due to drunk driving.
• Men and young adults (the demographic most represented in the Marine Corps) are at higher risk of being involved in alcohol-impaired crashes.

(Source: CDC; NHTSA)

NOT ONE DROP – MCB Butler’s Standard of Responsibility

Here on Okinawa, MCB Butler’s NOT ONE DROP initiative reinforces the command’s zero-tolerance stance toward drinking and driving. The standard is clear:

• If you drink, you do not drive—period.
• Not one drop of alcohol is acceptable before getting behind the wheel.
• The initiative emphasizes personal responsibility, accountability for your fellow Marines, and protecting the Okinawan community.

This aligns directly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s reminder that “buzzed driving is drunk driving”, and that impairment begins long before a person reaches a 0.08 BAC.

(Source: NHTSA)

Drug-Impaired Driving: More Than Just Illegal Substances

Impaired driving includes driving under the influence of:

• Marijuana
• Illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine)
• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter drugs such as sleep aids or cold medicines

NHTSA stresses that any drug that slows coordination, alters judgment, or delays reaction time impairs driving ability. Combining substances (e.g., alcohol and marijuana) significantly increases risk.

(Source: NHTSA; CDC)

Drowsy Driving: Fatigue Is Impairment

Driving while tired is often overlooked, but the research is clear: fatigue impairs driving just like alcohol.

• Being awake for 18 hours produces impairment equal to a 0.05 BAC.
• Being awake for 24 hours is similar to having a 0.10 BAC, above the legal limit.
• An estimated 6,000 fatal crashes each year may involve drowsy driving.
• Military personnel, especially those working irregular shifts, long hours, or high operational tempos, are at increased risk.

(Source: CDC; National Safety Council)

Signs of drowsy driving include:

• Frequent yawning or blinking
• Drifting out of your lane
• Missing road signs or exits
• Difficulty keeping your head up

If you notice these signs, stop driving immediately, switch drivers, rest, or call for a ride. Fatigue is not a sign of weakness, it’s physiology. And it can be deadly.

Distracted Driving: A Growing Threat

Distracted driving is one of the fastest-rising causes of vehicle-related injuries and deaths.

• More than 3,500 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2021.
• Texting is especially dangerous: sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, the length of a football field at 55 mph.
• The military’s younger demographic is among the groups most likely to use smartphones while driving.

(Source: NHTSA)

What counts as distraction?

• Texting or using your phone
• Eating in the car
• Using navigation or adjusting controls
• Talking to passengers
• “Rubbernecking” other incidents

Your phone can wait. Your life, and the lives of others, cannot.

Holiday Season: Heightened Risk

December brings holiday gatherings, unit events, and increased travel. Historically, this period sees a spike in:

• Alcohol-impaired crashes
• Drug-impaired crashes
• Fatigue-related incidents
• Distracted driving

Law enforcement and DoD installations respond with high-visibility enforcement, sobriety checkpoints, and stricter liberty and driving policies.

Protect your battle buddies. Create a plan before you go out. And use available transportation options when needed.

DoD Policy: Readiness Comes First

DoD Instruction 1010.04 makes it clear that substance misuse undermines:

• Readiness
• Safety
• Discipline
• Unit cohesion

Every impaired driving incident, whether due to alcohol, drugs, distraction, or fatigue, has consequences. These may include:

• Loss of base driving privileges
• Mandatory substance use education
• UCMJ action
• Impact on career progression and clearance

When in doubt, don’t drive.

What Marines Can Do

Plan Ahead

• Identify a designated sober driver.
• Use Okinawa’s taxi network, rideshare apps, or on-base transportation.
• Know your medications and their effects.

Take Care of Each Other

• Stop a fellow Marine from driving impaired.
• Don’t hesitate to involve leadership if needed.
• Share transportation options with your unit or peers.

Listen to Your Body

• If you’re tired, pull over.
• If you’re distracted, eliminate the source.
• If you’ve had even one drink, follow NOT ONE DROP and don’t drive.

Sources

Alcohol & Drug-Impaired Driving

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Impaired Driving; Alcohol and Driving
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over; Drug-Impaired Driving; Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving; Traffic Safety Facts

Drowsy Driving

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Drowsy Driving
• National Safety Council (NSC): Fatigue and Driving

Distracted Driving

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Distracted Driving; Texting and Driving Statistics

DoD & Military Policy

• DoD Instruction 1010.04: Problematic Substance Use and Gambling Disorder
• Military OneSource: Substance Misuse Policies and Resources

Installation Reference

• Marine Corps Base Butler: NOT ONE DROP Initiative (local policy guidance)