The statistics are scary. As reported by the Herald’s Eric Johnson this week in his story “Over the limit, under arrest,” in the last three years in December in Minnesota, 41 motorists have been killed in alcohol-related accidents; 10,533 have been arrested for driving under the influence and one in eight, 505,152 motorists, have a DWI on their record in this state.

We appreciate what our local law enforcement has done to decrease the size of the problem, especially through efforts such as the Save and Sober program that calls for extra deputies and officers to patrol the roads and get the message out to other drivers.

It can’t end there, though.

We, as residents of Mower County, need to step up to the plate and be responsible, make sure we line up designated drivers if we plan to go out drinking, and we need to encourage others to do the same.

It may sound simple, but all to often, one drink leads to two, two drinks lead to three and four and then we’re thinking we’re still OK to drive a mile or two.

Think ahead and plan accordingly, especially during the holidays.

Our lives could depend on it.