New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate with friends and family. It’s an opportunity to start the year over again with new goals in mind. Take the time this New Year’s Eve to make one of your priorities safety, starting with how you spend your night out. Remember to call a cab if you’ve been drinking, and if you are a sober driver on the road to look out for other drivers who may not be as responsible as you are.
The fact is that while many are starting off their New Year with high hopes, some families may lose loved ones in drunk driving accidents.
More Than A Coincidence
Just how much more likely are there to be deaths from alcohol-related crashes on New Year’s? The death toll is about 150 percent higher than the average for the same day of the week during the rest of the holiday season. That’s based on American Auto Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety’s research and the work of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
One AAA study showed that, although most Americans believe that drinking and driving is a serious threat to personal safety, one in ten drivers reports having driven “when they thought that their alcohol level might be close to or possibly over the legal limit” in the past year.
“Intellectually, people seem to get it, but their behavior is still more, ‘Do as I say, not as I do,’” said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of AAA.
AAA’s website currently showcases an online form where you can pledge not to drive under the influence. The pledge’s purpose is to help reduce the number of DUIs in the country. The days leading up to New Year’s Eve are the perfect time to make your pledge.
Be Part Of The Solution
There are other ways to make safety an active choice on the roads this holiday.
- Don’t forget that you have are a powerful influence over your friends and family. If you see a loved one about to drive under the influence, take an active stance to protect their safety and the safety of others. No one will think less of you for being extra cautious in 2012.
- Likewise, if a friend lets you know you might have had more to drink than you planned, trust the word of those who know you best. Remember, cabs aren’t the only option. Get a ride home from a sober friend or call AAA’s “Tipsy Tow.” The service is open to anyone (in states where it’s offered) and the first 10 miles are free. Ask for a Tipsy Tow by calling your local AAA office. You might call ahead of time to make sure it’s available in your area.
- The best course might be to plan ahead. Make a reservation with a car service, have a family member promise to be the designated driver or stay the night at a friend’s.
Make safety a priority this New Year’s Eve and you’ll ensure many more years of celebrations to come with close family and friends. From our family to yours – Happy New Year.
Drive safely, Dallas.
