Bert Parnall Interview on KOB TV 4 for MADD

Transcript:
"Speaker 1:
Those tweets are a very important reminder that while a New Year's holiday. Sure, it can be a lot of fun, but it is also very dangerous one. In fact, it is the most dangerous time to be out on the roads and right now we're joined by attorney Bert Parnall who is also with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He's got a very important safety reminder for us today this afternoon. Now, Bert, what makes this holiday so dangerous for drivers out there?

Bert Parnall:
Well first of all, we're out there to have a good time. So have a good time but have a plan. This is New Year's. Our culture, like all cultures, celebrate the new year and we celebrate with alcohol. Don't ignore that you might or will have a drink. That means have a plan, have a plan before you leave. This could include having a designated driver, but more importantly, well resolve to save lives. Use a taxi or Uber. It is okay to Uber. In fact, it's super to Uber. What I'd like to let you and everybody know is first of all, you enter that app onto your phone now.

Don't do it in the dark at the end of the night. Put that app on your phone, register. If you are a first time Uber User, New Mexico Mothers Against Drunk Driving, there's a promotion. If you enter NMMADD, New Mexico Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as a first time user, you will get $15 off your ride.

Speaker 1:
I think that is very important to come up with this plan beforehand because honestly, if you're out there and you're getting drunk or intoxicated, the last thing you're going to be worried about is getting a safe drive at that point. But if you have a plan before, I feel like that would make it a lot easier.

Bert Parnall:
Correct. Drunk driving, obviously everybody knows, but they should be particularly aware of some of the great dangers. It kills 10,000 people every year.

Speaker 1:
Wow.

Bert Parnall:
300,000 people are hurt every year. 50,000 drunk drivers are third time offenders every year. In New Mexico, over nearly half of the fatalities on our roads are due to drunk driving. Half and that's approximately 140 in the past few years, that's somewhere around 10 a month, three people per week die due to drunk driving every year in New Mexico.

Speaker 1:
Well, I know there's far too many times that we've reported on those deaths. It definitely happens all the time. Now, if I'm correct, this is the most dangerous holiday for drunk driving.

Bert Parnall:
Yes it is. Again, I go back to the fact that we all celebrate and it's up to us to eradicate drunk driving. How do we prevent it? I will say be a rat. Save a life. If you're out there on the roads and you see drunk drivers, a drunk driver weaving, swerving, stopping, erratically, you know. You can tell. Call 911. Call the police, get there a license plate, year, make, model, color of the car, and tell them about what's going on. But it is not only after the police, it is up to all of us. Drunk drivers, many people are driving and many people are drinking.

It's up to everybody, friends, family to be the first line of defense and make sure that that person doesn't go get behind the wheel. For every drunk driving death, it could have been prevented.

Speaker 1:
Well, that's definitely true. An important reminder. Thank you so much for stopping by today and telling us about this.

Bert Parnall:
I do want to mention again that Uber code. There is also a Bernalillo County program called Tavern Taxi, 999-1400. From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, they will take you to your destination and from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM, they will take you back and you can register for your ride to get to the destination now. And I will reimburse on New Year's Day up to $10 each way. Just call my number 332-BERT or callbert.com so that people don't get hurt.

Speaker 1:
All right. Well, thank you, Bert, so much. No excuse to go out there and do something terrible. Thank you."

Bert Parnall, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative, is interviewed by KOB-TV 4 about having a plan on New Year's to keep yourself & your friends from driving drunk on the New Year's holiday.

Parnall Law Firm
2025 San Pedro Dr NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
(505) 207-3865
www.hurtcallbert.com