A study released Tuesday shows Mississippi earned a B- grade on how the state handles drinking and driving problems.

And although it’s refreshing that our state is doing better than average — nationally a C+ was the average — we think this is one area in which we must demand excellence.

Call us overbearing, demanding parents, but we think it’s crucial that our state work to keep improving that score.

Last year 351 people died in alcohol-related accidents. And some of those were innocent children, just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Three hundred and fifty-one may not seem like such a huge number when compared to cancer and heart attacks except that drinking and driving is completely preventable and often harms innocent bystanders.

While the state’s alcohol-related death toll has improved from previous years, it’s still too high. Our goal should be to lower that number to zero.

It may sound like a lofty goal but it’s certainly an attainable one.

Think about it.

What prevents us from eliminating alcohol-related deaths?

Nothing but apathy.

All it takes is a little effort.

It’s actually quite simple. If you’ve been drinking — even a little — don’t drive.

If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for the rest of us.

As the holidays are upon us, please do us all a favor, don’t drink and drive. Every one is counting on you. No party is worth your life. We need to strive for an A+ on next year’s report card — A for abolished.