CHICAGO, IL – The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that more than 425 people may die on U.S. roadways this New Year’s Day holiday period. Holidays are traditionally a time of high travel for families across the country with many choosing to travel via car which has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation. While holidays are a time to celebrate, many include alcohol consumption which is a major contributing factor to motor-vehicle crashes and fatalities.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports 40% of deadly crashes between Christmas and New Year’s involve drunk drivers. The organization, which is part of the National Institute of Health, stated on average there were 54 fatalities occur due to alcohol-related car crashes on New Year’s Eve alone.
Drunk driving avoidance tips for New Years
Drunk driving is responsible for 10,000 deaths each year and about one third of all traffic-related deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). View tips on how to avoid drunk driving this New Years:
The easiest way to know your guests won’t drive under the influence is to limit their access to alcohol. Serve non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers and for those who don’t wish to drink.
While it may seem nosey, ask about guests plans for a designated driver to help you decide if you need to confiscate keys or let someone pass out of your couch. Ensure that your guests know that you’re looking out for their safety. If you’re able to, offer them a place to stay until they’ve sobered up.
Alternative modes of transportation are at the palm of your hand. Uber and Lyft offer services to safely bring you from one place to another.
If you’re heading out for a party, it’s important to be responsible and avoid drinking and driving for your own safety and others on the road. You may think you can drive after a few drinks as alcohol effects your depth perception and information-processing skills. Since alcohol is a depressant, your central nervous system will slow down which delays your brain’s ability to access and respond.
Every state has a different legal limit, but driving with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) above .08% is extremely dangerous. The legal limit in Illinois is .08%. If you’re under 21 years old, there is a zero tolerance policy.
How much is too much?
Frequent drinks believe they can handle their liquor. The hard truth? Most metabolisms need a full hour to properly digest a glass of alcohol. A standard “glass” is classified as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. If you drink more than this in an hour, you should wait and find an alternative way home. Do not get behind the wheel.
The Dinizulu Law Group wishes you a happy and safe New Years.
