“Arrive Safely, Arrive Alive”: Campaign Launched to Combat Drunk and Distracted Driving This Easter

The Commissioner’s advice mirrors that of the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDCACC), which launched a countrywide education campaign earlier today. NDACC field officers were on the roads and in high traffic areas in all municipalities today, carrying out the “Arrive Safely, Arrive Alive” campaign. The campaign highlights the dangers of not only drunk driving but also distracted driving due to activities such as texting. Esner Vellos, Director of NDACC, says that the campaign is an initiative coming from the Ministry of Health and Wellness aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries during the Easter break.

Enser Vellos, Director, National Drug Abuse Control Council: “As the initiative of this Easter 2025 “Arrive Safely, Arrive Alive” campaign is to ensure that the population is aware  that there are mechanisms and there are tools that can be taken by the general population to ensure that this Easter we have safe roads, reducing consumption of alcohol but at the same time having a designated driver so that they will be able to reach their home safely. But in addition, we also want to point out the value that it has for us to not text and drive, for us to wear our seat belts, for us to not be distracted as well, for respecting the speed limits of our highways so that all of us can protect each other during these Easter holidays. As you know, during the Easter holidays, and in particular in Belize in all seasonal holidays there is always an increase of consumption of alcohol, right?  And there’s always an increase of individuals not making the right decisions when they’re driving on our highway. So it’s very important for us at the Ministry of Health and Wellness to ensure that the population is aware that if we are cautious and that if we reduce alcohol consumption and if we play by the rules that is engaged  within respecting the traffic laws and so forth then we will also be contributing for the reduction of traffic accidents in our highways because many people may not know that an increase in alcohol consumption, an increase in individuals driving reckless in our communities, it leads to traffic accidents and that means that during this period of time with more increase of accidents, it will be more accidents and more people going into the hospitals and so forth. So one of the initiatives that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is doing is precisely that.  How can we reduce alcohol consumption? How we can reduce drunk driving? How can we reduce traffic accidents so as to ensure the good health and the moral well-being of our population?”

The campaign is one of several such initiatives carried out by NDACC annually./