On New Year’s Eve, it’s traditional to have a glass of bubbly (champagne) or other drink to celebrate the arrival of the new year. When you’re on the roads, however, make sure that the driver hasn’t been drinking. This is the best way to ensure the safety of yourself and others as we transition into 2019.
Don’t Drink or Use Drugs and Drive
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,874 people were killed in traffic accidents in which an alcohol-impaired driver was involved last year. That means the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.08. In the month of December alone last year, there were 885 deaths in vehicle collisions with a drunk driver at the wheel.
Because of the association of New Year’s Eve and drinking, it’s very possible that there are more accidents with drunk drivers at the wheel both on New Year’s Eve and in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Don’t be one of them. If you’re going to a party in a home, make sure there is a designated driver or that you can take public transportation or call a friend or a ride-share service to drive you home. If you’re going to a party in a public place or a hotel, do the same – or even think of staying over at the hotel.
The NHTSA even has a free downloadable phone app, SaferRide, that will alert a friend to your location.
And remember that impaired driving doesn’t stem only from alcoholic drinks. Drugs will impair driving sure as surely as drinking will. Use the same safe principles if you take drugs on New Year’s Eve – or any other day. Don’t get behind the wheel.
Remember that many impaired drivers use the same excuses over and over again: they feel they can drive fine or are just a few miles from their destination. Drivers who are inebriated or high are not good judges of whether they can drive safely or not. Many accidents can happen just a few miles from home.
Follow All Safety Rules
It’s also prudent to remember that all safety rules need to be followed on New Year’s Eve. Wear a seat belt, and make sure that all passengers in the vehicle need to wear one. Obey the speed limit. Follow all the traffic laws.
An Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Los Angeles
If you or a loved one are in a car accident on New Year’s Eve or any other time, call the experienced Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Salamati Law Firm. Sean Salamati has been obtaining justice in Los Angeles car accidents for years. Let him put his experience to work for you.
Additional Resources:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Impaired Driving. https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/index.html.
- U.S. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA Reminds Motorists to Drive Sober this Holiday Season. December 18, 2018. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-reminds-motorists-drive-sober-holiday-season.
