STATEMENT OF JACKIE GILLAN, PRESIDENT OF ADVOCATES FOR HIGHWAY & AUTO SAFETY,
ON UTAH ENACTING THE NATION’S FIRST .05% BAC LAW
This commonsense, research-based law will make Utah’s roads safer for motorists. Impaired driving is one of the deadliest plagues on our streets and roads.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) commends Governor Gary Herbert and the Utah Legislature for enacting the nation’s first .05 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) law. The bill (HB 155), sponsored by Representative Norman Thurston and Senator J. Stuart Adams, was a significant victory advancing the safety of Utah families and visitors.
Utah families are paying with their lives and their wallets because of drunk driving. In 2015, there were 276 fatalities on the state’s roads and nearly twenty percent of those deaths (53) were alcohol-related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Over the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015, 468 people were killed on Utah’s roadways in crashes involving a drunk driver. Furthermore, all traffic crashes cost Utah taxpayers $1.725 billion annually. This is equivalent to a “crash tax” of nearly $600 for every person in Utah. Drunk driving is a serious problem, and the Utah Legislature and Governor Herbert have achieved a sensible solution.
This law is backed by scientific research, data and outcomes from over 100 countries that have already changed their laws to .05 percent BAC and reduced impaired driving. Reducing BAC limits will not discourage alcohol consumption, but it will deter dangerous drinking and driving. Laboratory evidence shows that most adults are significantly impaired at .05 percent BAC. When a driver gets behind the wheel of a car at this BAC level, his or her driving skills are severely degraded resulting in difficulty steering and tracking moving objects and reduced response to emergency driving situations.
There is broad support for this law from national, state and local public health and safety organizations, parents, law enforcement and emergency responders. It is time that other states follow the lead of Utah.
Each person needlessly killed in an alcohol related crash forever changes the lives of families and communities. Advocates thanks and congratulates Governor Herbert, Representative Thurston, Senator Adams, and all HB 155 supporters in the Utah Legislature for demonstrating leadership and courage, and for saving lives.
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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (www.saferoads.org) is a coalition of consumer, public health, medical, safety and insurance organizations working together to improve highway and auto safety policies in Congress, states and Executive branch agencies.
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Infographic lists 16 quirky and fascinating places to visit this year
By venturing off the beaten path, you’ll have a memorable adventure no matter where you go.”
— Reservation Counter
LEHI, UTAH, USA, March 23, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Road trips are great ways to bond with your family and friends, and to visit places you’ve never been before. Popular road trip destinations like The Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls boast some stunning natural beauty and scenery, but they can also be crowded—especially during peak travel times.
If you’re looking for a place less traveled this season but still capable of setting your Instagram or Facebook alight, you might want to check out these unexpected adventures. The following are just a few of the top 16 quirky and fascinating places featured by Reservation Counter’s infographic Road-trip Gems.
Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada: The Neon Museum is your best bet for something unique and off the beaten path of the Las Vegas Strip. This six-acre museum is filled with vintage neon signs restored to their former glory.
Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: Here, you can gaze at the stunning frozen beauty of 40 glaciers, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the many wildlife that roam the tundra—such as puffins, sea otters, bald eagles, and mammoth humpback whales.
The Wave, Kanab, Arizona: Check out the beautiful, red sandstone wave formation made popular after the launch of Microsoft’s Windows 7.
Gillette Castle, East Haddam, Connecticut: Don’t let the strange, rocky exterior fool you; inside you’ll find a plethora of bizarre decor, from built-in couches to hidden surveillance mirrors.
Whether you’re looking to experience the classic American tourist destinations, or something a little more exclusive, you’ll find what you need in virtually each and every state. And, by venturing off the beaten path, you’ll have a memorable adventure no matter where you go. Find the complete list at: https://www.reservationcounter.com/hotel/uncover-these-hidden-road-trip-gems
Reservation Counter specializes in providing travelers access to more hotel choices and ways to find the accommodations that fit their needs best. Based in Utah, Reservation Counter is part of TravelPass Group, which is becoming a vibrant marketplace with partnerships with independent and brand name hotels, wholesalers, and the largest travel agencies. It represents a combined inventory of more than 1 million properties worldwide and operates best-in-class customer service centers that help travelers 24/7
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OCEANSIDE, CA Devin, of Orem, is a 13-year-old boy with a wide grin. Zed is a two-year-old, Labrador/Golden Retriever cross that is happiest with Devin. The two are best friends that depend on one another.
Devin is not an ordinary kid and Zed is not an ordinary dog. Devin has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Zed is an assistance dog, provided free of charge by Canine Companions for Independence. Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
Before formally receiving Zed in a Canine Companions for Independence graduation ceremony, Devin and Jared had the opportunity to meet the volunteers who raised Zed until he was about a year and a half old. It was a happy surprise to all that Linda and David are also Utahns, living just north in Ogden.
“Zed was the eighth Canine Companions puppy we’ve raised,” recalls Linda. “Although it broke our hearts to say goodbye to Zed when he went to professional training at Canine Companions, I thought my heart would burst with JOY at graduation! As much as we loved that sweet boy, it was so wonderful to see him with Devin. The smile on Devin's face made the tough part of giving Zed up all worthwhile!”
Zed provides emotional and practical benefits for Devin as he battles a progressive disease. “I wanted an assistance dog to cuddle and play with. Plus, Zed will be able to retrieve things for me when I’m in a wheelchair,” Devin explains matter-of-factly.
Right now, Devin walks and runs slower than his peers. His muscles fatigue faster. Eventually, Devin will need a wheelchair and will probably depend on Zed more for practical assistance.
“Zed retrieves dropped objects, pushes doors and drawers closed and pulls laundry baskets,” Devin’s stepfather Jared says. “But the cuddling has been the biggest gift so far for Devin!”
Sometimes, a little puppy love is just the right medicine.
Linda is the chair of Imagine Independence, an annual fundraiser in Ogden for Canine Companions (https://ccisouthwest.ejoinme.org/imagine ). This year, Devin and Jared will be featured speakers. To be held at the Union Station Browning Theater on April 20, the casual gala will feature dinner, dessert dash, auctions and assistance dog presentations. Guests will also get their puppy fix, thanks to local volunteers and their Canine Companions puppies, including Linda and David with their current puppy, Glenn!
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Statement on Utah Victims of London Terror Attack
From Congresswoman Mia Love:
"I am heartbroken to hear about the violent death of Kurt Cochran and the serious injury of his wife Melissa in London Wednesday. This kind of vicious terrorist attack cannot be tolerated. We, as Utahns are united in grief and loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family."
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Melbourne, FL - To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) has announced the line up for their annual HEAVY AND LIGHT event, which will take place on Saturday, April 1st, 2017 at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL. The organization invites everyone to join them for an inspiring evening of songs, conversation, and hope, including performances from Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), The Rocket Summer, spoken word poet Propaganda, Zach Williams (The Lone Bellow), and spoken word poet Tonya Ingram.
Tickets are on-sale now. For more information, please visit: www.twloha.com/blog/heavyandlight2017.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $1.8 million directly into treatment and recovery and answered over 200,000 emails from over 100 countries. For more information, please visit: www.twloha.com.
Over the past decade, TWLOHA has been heralded by press and seen on NBC Nightly News, CBS Sunday Morning, MSNBC, Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, Relix, US Magazine, Glamour, Yahoo!, The Huffington Post, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NYLON Guys, MTV, Elle, NPR, and so many more. The organization has seen support from numerous celebrities including actress Jessica Chastain, actor Jared Padalecki, Miley Cyrus, Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix, actress Sophia Bush, singer/songwriter Mat Kearney, USA soccer stars Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, singer/songwriter Christina Perri, rock band Switchfoot, pop rock act The Summer Set, Hayley Williams (Paramore), among others.
Last September, TWLOHA wrapped its 5th annual campaign to honor National Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day. The organization was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support shown during this year's campaign, titled "And So I Kept Living,"which, thanks to the help of supporters all over the world, raised more than $99K for treatment and counseling.
In December, TWLOHA launched its "Bring Hope #into17" month-long giving campaign, which raised more than $122K of an initial $100K goal. This money will be used to help TWLOHA bring its message of hope to more people than ever before by enabling them to attend 150 events and festivals across the country, grow their University Chapters program, and more.
