Amidst the parades, parties and fireworks, one can easily get caught up in Independence Day festivities, but the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds holiday travelers not to let the celebrations distract them from safety.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), this Fourth of July will see a record high travel volume of 43 million Americans on the move. Independence Day has already earned the infamous reputation of being one of the most travelled and most dangerous times of the year, so with an additional increase in travelers this year, combined with more celebrating, the risk of drunk driving also escalates.
During the 2014 July Fourth period, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 164 lives were lost in motor vehicle crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.
“July Fourth is the time to display not only patriotism but also safety and responsibility,” said MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath. “Show your love for this country by keeping it safe and never letting anyone, including yourself, drive impaired.”
To enjoy a safe and responsible holiday MDOT suggests the following:
- Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before drinking.
- If you are impaired, call a taxi, sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to call local law enforcement.
- If you see someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to arrive home safely.
Over the holiday weekend, Mississippi law enforcement will be out in force to put an end to drunk driving through increased sobriety checkpoints, roving and saturation patrols and other enforcement efforts.
Stay independent from drunk driving this Fourth of July. Never let yourself or a friend drive impaired.
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