With the Fourth of July right around the corner, it’s time to plan now for a safe and sober way home. While many of us focus on fireworks safety at this time, we also need to keep our roads safe for the drive home after the festivities. Buzzed driving IS drunk driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.
Even if you will not be drinking alcoholic beverages this Fourth of July, keep in mind that over the course of 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. And there were a total of 491 motor vehicle traffic fatalities during the Fourth of July Holiday period (Thursday, July 3rd, 6 pm to Monday, July 7th, 5:59 am). And for those who say they don’t plan on over-indulging . . . a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had “only a few” drinks.
Four steps you should take to protect your loved ones :
1.) Designate a sober driver before you leave for your Fourth of July events.
2.) Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi.
3.) Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.
4.) Call 9-1-1 if you see an impaired driver on the road.
Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.
Very sobering (literally!)
Thanks for the reminder – this is a huge holiday and it’s easy for people to get out of hand.
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I couldn’t agree more. I will never forget my passenger window getting smashed and shards of glass going into my leg, because a buzzed driver was swerving.