Driving while intoxicated exacts a high price

UNT marketing major Austin Land, 22, was killed by a drunk driver Feb. 22, 1996. He was a talented acrobat, popular college cheerleader and fashion model engaged to a beautiful Lewisville girl who was also a fashion model.

Most importantly, he was my son. He's not road kill or just another statistic.

Austin was the son who insisted on his place at my right hand at the dinner table. He made sure to sit directly behind me on vacation trips because he liked to put his little hand on my shoulder from time to time during a long journey.

A drunk driver killed my little boy on Highway 121 in Lewisville/Flower Mound, near the old Texas Instruments complex, which is now named Convergence. A cross memorializes his death near the crash site. A tree provides only partial shade there because one quarter of the treetop is cut out to accommodate the telephone wires overhead. That tree reminds me of my own heart because it still feels like one quarter of my heart is missing.

The drunk driver, whose blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.24, was sentenced to seven years behind bars but served only 18 months. Like thousands of other victims, my family and I were sentenced to life without Austin, with no possibility of parole. Many thousands more are sentenced to lifelong injuries. In Texas, a person is considered alcohol impaired with a BAC of 0.08.

Texas leads the nation in death by drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2003, 1,709 people were killed in Texas in alcohol-related crashes. That's already more deaths than the troops we've lost in Iraq since hostilities began. Our war on American highways never ends. Remember, the drunk driver won't discriminate against you based on religion, race, gender or sexual orientation. He or she will kill or maim you just the same.

If you choose to drink, don't drive. If your friends insist on drinking, then insist on being the designated driver. You're too valuable and precious to take this lightly. Don't be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Mitch Land (mland@unt.edu), director of the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism, is also the president of MADD North Texas.

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT presses forward with plans to create Honors College
• UNT to celebrate University, Alumni Appreciation, Honors days in April
• Volunteers needed for third annual UNT Beautification Day on April 2
• Queer Eye for the Straight Guy episode featuring UNT airs this month
• Prescription plan shift puts all non-sedating antihistamines in most expensive tier
• Tips to help reduce allergy symptoms
• Signs installed on campus as smoking policy reminders
• Spring brings Texas severe weather season
• Staff honored with awards presented at sack lunch

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