Memorial Day Weekend to the end of Labor Day Weekend is a 100-day period that embraces vacation time, travel time and nice weather. Lots of folks are driving — and some of the drivers are impaired.

The Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County mission statement says that we are dedicated to deter driving under the influence and underage drinking in our communities through education and awareness.

We accomplish our mission through our monthly impact panels and our prevention program given to all the middle schools on Whidbey Island. We present panels to military personnel at NAS Whidbey Island by invitation. We want all of you to make good choices when driving.

Do not add to the traffic or mortality statistics for 2018. Do not put yourself through the hell of knowing you endangered your life and the lives of others needlessly. Do not start a ripple effect that will inject more suffering, pain and anguish into a number of lives.

Through our annual fundraising effort: Keep It a Safe Summer, we support our staff and program costs.

At the end of the 100 Deadly Days of Summer, Island Thrift generously matches whatever monies we raise, up to $5,000. They have done this for a number of years, along with scores of other Partners in Prevention. All of our community outreach, engagement, education, panels, and prevention, is accomplished through our donors, be they individuals or organizations.

For more background information about us, please go to our website: http://idipic.org/ and our Facebook page.

If you wish to participate in IDIPIC’s mission or this campaign, please contact IDIPIC by e-mail at idipic@idipic.org Donations can be mailed to IDIPIC, POB 358, Oak Harbor WA 98277.

We will acknowledge every donation we receive, or you can stipulate to have your donation remain anonymous.

Here’s to safe roads for all of us, all of the time!

Mike Diamanti is the Coupeville IDIPIC director and Alice Biddulph is the IDIPIC facilitator/educator