The choice to get behind the wheel intoxicated can impact someone’s life forever, like mine. I lost my sister, Taylor, on North Dakota roads to a drunk driver. Driving under the influence does not just impact the person driving. It affects the people hit, injured, and killed, their families, friends, coworkers, and everyone who knew them. Society as a whole is affected by the many deaths caused by the negligent actions of someone who decides to get behind the wheel intoxicated. Every year we lose teachers, nurses, police officers, and many other people to drunk driving. These individuals are vital to the wellbeing of our society and communities. The senseless act to drink and drive affects everyone to some degree. Personally, a senseless drunk driver has directly affected my family. My sister Taylor and her friend Abby were killed in the early morning hours of June 27th, 2015. Their friend Shayna survived with major life threading injuries, and a traumatic brain injury. It took her 7 years to recover enough to live nearly independently. She still needs assistance grocery shopping, driving, and doing other daily tasks. Death and severe injury are just a fraction of the negative consequences driving under the influence can create. One small decision to drive intoxicated creates a chain reaction of negative effects to yourself, the people around you, and your community. In North Dakota, there is a prominent problem with drunk driving. Many families are affected by fatalities and injuries caused by the reckless decision to drive intoxicated. Increasing number of public awareness campaigns and increasing criminal penalties for DUI’s in North Dakota will decrease the number of people killed in alcohol related crashes on North Dakota roads. Also, we personally can take the initiative to educate others on how to drink responsibly and prevent them from getting behind the wheel. Sharing my own story can make others have the realization of the consequences if they were to get behind the wheel. Vision Zero and the Run4Change, are public campaigns in North Dakota focusing on reducing the number of preventable severe injuries and fatalities on our roads. These programs also bring awareness and education on responsible alcohol consumption and transportation. Programs sponsored by Vision Zero and the NDDOT like ride-hailing vouchers through Uber and Lyft, have prevented drunk individuals from getting behind the wheel. This ultimately supports the decrease in injuries and fatalities from drunk drivers, since there are fewer intoxicated drivers on the ND roads. Statistically speaking, since the implementation of the Vision Zero awareness campaign, drunk driving fatalities have decreased from 39 people in 2020 to 19 people in 2024. This is encouraging. The statistics show public awareness campaigns and programs, like Vision Zero and Run4Change, contribute to the decline of drunk driving fatalities. Another strategy to promote responsible decision making and accountability when consuming alcohol, is to increase the criminal penalties for driving under the influence. In the past, North Dakota found a need to increase its drunk driving related penalties due to high numbers of DUI related fatalities and injuries. House Bill 1302 in 2013 increased the penalties for DUI’s. In 2012, the year before H. B. 1302 was implemented, there were 87 alcohol related fatalities making up 52% of all traffic fatalities in North Dakota. This was alarming, which lead to the passing of the 2013 H. B. 1302. This increased the penalties to where they currently stand. Statistically, the increase of DUI penalties has been shown to correlate directly to the decrease in number of alcohol related traffic fatalities. Within just 8 years, there was a drastic decrease in fatalities from 87 in 2012 to 39 in 2020, after the implementation of H. B. 1302. Increasing the penalty for a DUI keeps people who are a higher risk to drive intoxicated off our state's roads completely. It can also deter the individuals from reoffending. One very effective way North Dakota can increase the penalties for DUIs is implementing ignition interlock devices for every person convicted of a DUI. These devices use a breathalyzer like device that is wired into your car that prevents your car from starting if you have alcohol in your system. These penalties are very harsh but effective in reducing the alcohol related driving fatalities in many other states. If North Dakota implemented these strategies, the goal of zero fatalities or serious alcohol related fatalities is very obtainable. I live every day without my older sister. My family’s situation could have been prevented. Using our voices to share our stories and create personal connections can also prevent people from getting behind the wheel drunk. North Dakota is on the road to eliminating the preventable tragedies caused by drunk driving. Decreasing and eliminating fatalities caused by drunk driving is possible by increasing the DUI penalties, like implementing ignition interlock devices, and number of awareness campaigns and programs. It’s time to advocate for safer roads, because you or your family could be affected directly, like mine.

My name is Hayden Mehlhoff. I am currently a senior at Mandan High School. Next year, I plan on going to Minot State University to pursue a degree in Radiologic Technology. I am excited to begin my college journey. I can’t wait to help others in my future career in healthcare. As I walk through graduation and look in the stands with my loved ones cheering me on, I won’t help but notice someone is missing, my sister, Taylor. In June of 2015, my family’s lives forever changed. My sister, Taylor Goven was killed by an intoxicated driver. Taylor and her friends were struck by a drunk driver going the wrong way on Expressway in Bismarck. It was a week away from her 22nd birthday. So instead of celebrating her birthday that day, we held her funeral. Growing up without my older sister was hard. Sisters are supposed to be someone to talk to about friends, school, advice, and all those other things that sister talk about. I missed out on those opportunities. My sister was a figure skater for Team North Dakota. It later inspired me to play hockey. She coached younger girls in skating. She was funny, kind, smart, and hard-working. She made an impact on everyone she met. She was attending UND to become an engineer. That summer she had moved back from Grand Forks to intern at the engineering firm that my dad worked at. One of our favorite things was having Sunday dinners as a family. Now we rarely do, because looking at her empty spot is almost unbearable. I was younger when she died, only eight years old, but I still remember her vividly. She taught me how to skate and I remember always being excited to share my birthday with her, every July. I remember who she was and she has helped shape who I am, in death and life. The grief my family has endured has been difficult. There are still family vacations, holidays, and spending time together. However, Taylor’s absence is always felt. And now I will graduate without my sister there. It is moments like these that hurt the most. I have taken the energy of my grief and try to make a positive impact on others, just as my sister has done. I focus on volunteering with Dreams in Motion, working with children with disabilities at my job, playing sports, and getting good grades. I live as she would have. Most importantly, I share her story, other’s stories, and the consequences of driving impaired, hoping to prevent others from a senseless tragedy like mine. I attend Vision Zero events and ran in the Run 4 Change event in 2022. I choose to not drink and encourage those around me to make good decisions, like getting a ride, or just not drinking at all. I also advocate against texting and driving and other forms of distractions. I want people to realize a split second is all it takes for a tragedy to happen to them, that changes their lives forever. I will honor the loved ones we lost like my sister, her friend, and the Deutscher family and will continue to share this message into my college years and throughout my life. I have recognized the importance of Vision Zero’s message and will continue to stay involved, until zero fatalities occur on our roads. Throughout our family’s journey with grief, we have met amazing people that have experienced tragedy similar to ours. Creating these friendships has helped form a circle of support. The driver of the vehicle my sister was in, Shayna, survived the crash. She was my sister’s college roommate that was visiting her for the weekend when the crash occurred . I did not know Shayna before the accident. We now have created a lifelong friendship and it is nice to have a connection with my sister. Shayna’s story continues to inspire me every day. She also is a strong advocate with Vision Zero. While my own grief is heavy, advocating for responsible driving and decisions and sharing our stories helps me create bonds with families that have experienced this same heartache. It makes me hopeful more people will make the right decisions. It inspires me to continue helping people and do good in this world. It motivates me to stay involved and continue to fight for change. No fatalities and senseless tragedies should be caused by impaired and distracted drivers. So as I graduate high school, I will carry my sister with me. I carry the lessons of resilience, compassion, empathy, supporting change and advocating for what you believe in. My sister would be proud. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. -I have also submitted a video for review. It has a very similar message. However, I could not submit the video without a written essay as well. Thank you!