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NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Friday, October 24, 2014
Contact:
Tahni Segars
Communication Specialist
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
404.657.9105 (o) | 404.290.6967 (c)
tsegars@gohs.ga.gov
Highway safety office urges
sober driving on Halloween
Designate a sober driver before your first sip; watch for trick-or-treaters
(ATLANTA) — Halloween is quickly approaching, and with it landing on a Friday this year, it’s likely to mean a very busy weekend that’s already packed with fall festivities and the Georgia-Florida football game. All of these events mean more cars on the road.
This Halloween, many people will be celebrating with alcohol. As you carve your pumpkin or pick out a costume this year, keep in mind that one of the best choices you can make is to drive sober or designate a sober driver to get you home safely. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is reminding all drivers that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving because every Halloween there are still some people who think they can drive after drinking.
“We want people to remember: like ‘Trick-or-Treat;’ ‘Drink-or-Drive.’ One or the other, but never both,†said GOHS Director Harris Blackwood. “Before you take your first sip of alcohol on Oct. 31, figure out who your designated sober driver will be. If you wait until you’re ‘buzzed’ to make a decision, you may decide to drive.â€
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving, which means that driving “buzzed†brings very serious consequences. In 2012 alone, there were 10,322 people killed in drunk-driving crashes nationwide. Those were preventable deaths that happened when drunk drivers failed to plan ahead.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is a statistically dangerous night for drunk driving. In 2012, almost half (48 percent) of all crash fatalities that night involved a drunk driver.
GOHS recommends these simple tips for a safe Halloween:
• Before the Halloween festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night.
• Always designate a sober driver.
• If you are drunk, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Walking impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk you home.
• Use the Drive Sober, Georgia app on your cell phone to find a sober ride or taxi service in your region.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.
Law enforcement in Georgia will be out this Halloween. And if you’re drunk behind the wheel, you will be arrested.
The legal blood-alcohol concentration limit in Georgia and across the country is .08. Last year in Georgia, there were 134 crashes involving a drunk driver around Halloween (10/30/13 to 11/3/13). Don’t add to that number this year. Designate a sober driver.
GOHS is also reminding those out trick-or-treating to add some reflective or lighted items to any costumes.
“Please stay as visible as possible when you’re out hunting down Halloween treats,†Blackwood said. “Use crosswalks and watch for passing cars.â€
For more information and safety tips, visit gahighwaysafety.org.
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