The State Capitol Holds A Memorial Service To Raise Awareness of Driving Sober
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The State Capitol Holds A Memorial Service To Raise Awareness of Driving Sober

Date: November 29, 2011
By: Mengti Xu
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
The Missouri Capitol held a memorial service to honor people injured and killed by drunk drivers.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: ((Nats))

Richard Reed is a volunteer of a Springfield chapter against drunk driving.

During the ceremony, he says he lost his son in an impaired driving accident. 

Reed also says he has been trying to stop more tragedies from happening.

Actuality:  DRIVE1.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "We were trying to come up here and lobby our government up here to pass the seatbelt law and that has helped."

Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation Kevin Keith says he hopes the ceremony can continue to raise awareness.

Actuality:  DRIVE3.WAV
Run Time:  00:05
Description: "This is the choice no one had to die because of impaired driving if we just get folks to make a different choice."

Keith says the number of overall driving-related deaths decreased by eight percent so far compared with that of last year. 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mengti Xu.

Intro: 
People from the public came to the state Capitol to participate in a memorial service to remember victims of drunk drivers.
RunTime:  0:43
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Officials of the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a victim's relatives spoke in the ceremony.

Transportation Department Director Kevin Keith says driving-related deaths can easily drop if people stop drunk driving.

Actuality:  DRIVE4.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "We could cut that number by a third more immediately. That doesn't cost any money. That doesn't cost anything. Just don't drink and drive."

Keith says they will continue to make efforts to prevent future tragedies through education and enforcement.

Actuality:  DRIVE5.WAV
Run Time:  00:08
Description: "Our friends in the highway patrol and other law enforcement agencies are gonna be out looking for folks who are driving impaired and it's zero tolerance. They find you and they are gonna put you in jail."

Officials warn drivers must remember to drive sober during the holiday season.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Mengti Xu.