News sources reported on the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics in the hopes of keeping the roads a little safer over the holiday weekend. They include some helpful tips on how to avoid traffic incidents when you’re out having fun this weekend.
According to the NHTSA, 10,839 people died as a result of drunken-driving crashes nationwide in 2009. The same year, drunken-driving accidents accounted for 32 percent of all traffic fatalities, but were still down 7.4 percent from the previous year when 11,711 people were killed in such accident. More than 1,200 arrests for DUI were made over the Fourth of July weekend in California in 2009 as well.
The Fourth of July weekend ranks as the deadliest holiday weekend for drunken-driving related car crashes. The NHTSA says that about half of all car accidents over the holiday weekend are due to alcohol. Because of these statistics, city police officers, county sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers plan to run extra patrols through Monday night.
The NHTSA suggests that every group appoint a designated driver to hold everyone’s keys, get everyone home safe and abstain from drinking. Watch out for your friend’s drinking and make sure they get home safely. Drunkenly getting a ride from a stranger leaves an open opportunity for sexual assaults and other crimes.
Call a taxi. They cost much less than the $10,000 for a DUI after accounting for legal fees, penalties and inflated insurance. Don’t hesitate to call 911 to report a drunken driver, no matter who it is.
, I hope you found these tips helpful and use them to stay safe over the holiday weekend. If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to the drunken driving of another party, call a car accident lawyer in your city to discuss your legal options.
