Fairies” Against Drunk Driving: Who Knew?

Driving by itself is a dangerous ordeal; drunk driving is another level of peril. Drunk driving is not only illegal but deadly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 44 minutes.” That sad reality makes many people wonder: How can society separate this from life? Thankfully, some people have already taken initiative, such as the Montana group known as the ‘Bar Fairies.’

Founded in honor of Bobby Dewbre, a 21-year-old man killed by a drunk driver in 2023, the Bar Fairies have one goal: “promoting sober driving choices, DUI prevention, and community safety,” states their website. Following the death of their family member, his family understood the issue they needed to address. He was only crossing the street after his birthday, and remembering him properly meant the world to them. From then on, they turned their grief into a grassroots movement designed to alter the lives of all Montanians, as the state has one of the highest DUI death rates.

Now, every weekend, Beth McBride, Bobby’s mom, and her daughter, Carli Seymour, do something truly special. They go around Flathead Valley bars; the pair, plus others, search for cars left by people who drank the night before. When they find a car, they leave a note and a $5 coffee gift card. The note includes a photo of Bobby Dewbre and his story; the gift card is an honor token for those who made the safer decision, showing that taking an Uber or carpooling does make a difference.

While this idea started with two people in Montana, it is now beginning to spread across the state and country. McBridge says that “the 30-square-mile Flathead Valley currently has 75 volunteers and, as of today, 309 people have signed up,” marking a huge milestone for the initiative. Beyond Montana, people in Oregon, Nevada, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. are participating. This initiative is necessary, as Bobby Dewbre’s story is only one of thousands. By becoming widespread, the pair hopes to prevent more drunk drivers from entering the road, saving one life at a time.

Drunk driving kills. That is a fact. Even though it is illegal, people still do it. So, to prevent future deaths, samaritans like McBride and Seymour sparked change. Now, it is up to everyone else to follow in their footsteps. Prevention doesn’t happen overnight; it requires effort and persistence. People pursuing change have real outcomes, and if society wants those successes, everyone should help to achieve them.