Make sure your family and friends see this life-saving video

A doctor friend of mine from Ottawa sent me the link to the video posted with this blog entry. She received it from a relative of hers who lives in the Czech Republic. The video, according to the makers, has saved many lives because it encourages viewers to refrain from drinking and driving. It was actually started in Victoria, Australia by TCA, the Transport Accident Commission. The group's aim is to educate the public about the personal costs of dangerous driving practices. These risky behaviours include speeding and drunk driving.

Christmas is the time when people get together to have parties. It's a time when we all want to enjoy the spirit of friendship, family and love. We celebrate at work with Christmas parties. We get together with our friends and families. We have parties with those in our parish. There will be huge festivities in the City of Toronto, and the world over, for New Year's Eve. There will be parties for Christmas Day and Christmas' Eve. Teenagers too at this time of the year will have many parties and nights out. And we know at many of these festivities alcoholic beverages are served. Sadly, some will drink too much alcohol and then proceed to drive home and some regrettably end up getting into a serious or even deadly accident.

The good doctor urged me in her email to write about this issue. She said every school board should show this video to high school students in an effort to warn them of the terrible dangers in mixing drinking and driving. Parents should watch this video with their teenagers especially if they have a driver's licence. The video is a warning to all of us who want to protect life and avoid the suffering, pain and loss of loved ones from alcohol related deaths on the roads during Christmas, the New Year and everyday of the year. The true spirt of Christmas is not to be found in any bottle or car ride. We can all help to save lives by behaving, driving and drinking responsibly. By showing respect for ourselves and others, whether we are at parties or on the road, we are doing our part in living a good Christian life.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we find this teaching under the heading of Respect for Health: "The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air." (2290)