Safety Tidbit 3.19 - Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Safety Tidbit 3.19 – Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Reference: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Drunk Driving

                        Sunrise House

Some sobering facts. In 2016 there were 10,497 deaths from alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.  Holidays in general lead to a spike in alcohol consumption, and New Year’s Eve, traditionally celebrated with champagne toasts and excessive alcohol consumption, is one of the deadliest. According to the National Safety Council, between 2007 and 2011, about 42 percent of traffic accident deaths were due to drinking and driving. Aetna Insurance notes that 48 percent of driving deaths on the highway on New Year’s Eve are alcohol-related, suggesting that many people attempt to drive a great distance, which can result in a serious accident. In comparison, 35 percent of car accident deaths on Christmas were due to driving under the influence. SafeAuto.com reported that alcohol-related car accident deaths peaked for the year on New Year’s Eve between 2008 and 2012. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that drunk driving accidents in December 2015 were close to four times higher at night than during the day, indicating that many people who went to holiday events, including New Year’s Eve events, attempted to drive home intoxicated.

Take steps to prevent drunk driving:

• If you will be drinking, plan on not driving. Plan your safe ride home before you start the party. Designate a sober driver ahead of time.
• If you drink, do not drive for any reason. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, use public transportation, etc. Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app which helps you identify your location and call a taxi or friend to pick you up. Or use UBER, LYFT or something similar.
• If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home. 
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have an interesting safety or health question please let me know.