Each year, millions of children
and adults alike celebrate Halloween, a holiday known for its sweet treats and
spooky parties. Leave the dangerous driving for the witches on brooms, and
commit to sober driving Halloween night and every night. To help spread the
message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk
Driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s
Office and SAFE Coalition to remind everyone of the dangers of drunk driving.
Halloween poses an especially dangerous threat to pedestrians, as more people
are out at night on the hunt for candy. If your night involves alcohol, plan
for a sober ride home. Remember: It’s never safe to drink and drive.
This year,
Halloween falls on a Thursday, so we’re certain to see extra parties throughout
the weekend, and every single partygoer should plan their sober ride home in
advance. Even one drink can impair
judgment. You should never put yourself, or others, at risk because you made
the selfish choice to drink and drive. For most, even one drink can be one too
many. Remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk
Driving.
Between 2013
and 2017, there were 158 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night (6 p.m.
October 31 – 5:59 a.m. November 1). According to NHTSA, 42% of all people
killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween night from 2013 to 2017 were in
crashes involving a drunk driver. Younger drivers are most at risk: Even though
it is illegal to consume alcohol under age 21, those under the age of 21 had
the highest percentage (45%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on
Halloween night in 2017.
We want our
community to have a fun night out on Halloween, but to also stay safe and make
responsible choices. In today’s world, there are many options available for
drivers to help them get home safely if they have been drinking. We expect
drivers to refrain from driving after drinking.
It is
illegal everywhere in America to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
of .08 or higher. Even still, thousands die each year in drunk-driving-related
crashes. In 2017, there were 10,874 people killed in drunk-driving crashes. And
the costs can be financial, too: If you’re caught drinking and driving, you
could face jail time, lose your driver’s license and your vehicle, and pay up
to $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, car towing and repairs, higher insurance
rates, and lost wages.
Drunk
driving isn’t the only risk on the road: Drug-impaired driving is also an
increasing problem on our nation’s roads, for men and for women. If drivers are
impaired by any substance — alcohol or drugs — they should not get behind the
wheel of a vehicle. It is illegal in all states to drive impaired by alcohol or
drugs. Across the country, some states are starting to loosen restrictions on
marijuana, specifically. Remember: Driving while impaired is illegal, period.
The bottom line is this: If You Feel
Different, You Drive Different. It’s that simple.
If you plan
to head out for a night of Halloween partying, follow these simple tips for a
safe and happy evening:
·
Remember that it is never okay to
drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a
sober driver or call someone for a ride.
·
If you see a drunk driver on the
road, contact the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office
·
Have a friend who is about to
drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend
home safely.
Always remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
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