Each year, Independence Day explodes with festive fireworks, tasty
backyard-barbecues, and American pride. Unfortunately, the merrymaking can
create dangerous road conditions, as some drivers hit the streets after drinking
alcoholic beverages. This Independence Day, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s
Office, SAFE Coalition, and the U.S.
Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
want to remind drivers that Buzzed
Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you are under the influence of any substance and
you choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you put everyone in danger,
including yourself. During the Fourth of July holiday, make sure you plan for a
safe week of festivities.
During the 2017 Fourth of July holiday period (6 p.m.
June 30 to 5:59 a.m. July 5), 237 people were killed in crashes involving at
least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
of .08 or higher. These deaths accounted for 39 percent of the total motor
vehicle traffic crashes that occurred over the holiday period. The deaths also
represent a 23-percent increase from 2016, during which 192 people were killed
during the same holiday period. That’s 237 families who will forever remember
Independence Day with a heavy heart and nightmarish memories.
The Fourth of July should be a special time for people
to come together and celebrate the birth of our great nation. We want to remind
drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk
Driving. Under no circumstances is it ever okay to drink and drive. This
behavior is illegal, it’s deadly, and it’s 100-percent selfish. Do everyone in
your community a favor: If you’ve been drinking at a Fourth of July party, or
for any occasion, find a sober ride home.
According to NHTSA, drunk driving accounted for 29 percent
(10,874) of motor vehicle traffic crash-induced deaths in 2017. With Fourth of
July festivities wrapping up in the evening or late at night, more cars will be
on the roads. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal
crashes is higher at night. During the 2017 July 4th holiday period, of the 237
people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, 79 percent
(187) of the alcohol-impaired fatalities occurred during nighttime hours (6
p.m.–5:59 a.m.). If you are drunk or high, or even a
little buzzed, we are begging you: Stay off the roads. Drunk driving is deadly.
If you plan to be the sober driver, then don’t indulge—your friends are relying
on you.
This Fourth of July, we urge drivers to designate a
sober driver before heading out for the evening. If you plan on drinking, plan how
you will get around without driving. Remember these tips for a safe night on
the roads:
·
Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive.
Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or
plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
·
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.
Drinking and driving are dangerous, even if you’re
“just buzzed.” When you drive impaired, you risk your life and safety, and the
lives and safety of those riding with you and around you. Does mortality not
get your attention? Maybe money will: A DUI arrest could cost you up to
$10,000, not to mention the loss of your vehicle and driver’s license. You
could face jail time, higher insurance rates, and hefty expenses from attorney’s
fees, fines, car towing and repairs, and lost time at work. Imagine trying to
explain that to your family, friends, or employer.
This Fourth of July, commit to driving 100-percent
sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk
Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
