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Tis’ the season to drive sober
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12/23/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – To drink or to drive? That is the question the Licking County Safe Communities Coalition and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are asking county residents this holiday season. As preparation for holiday festivities with family and friends begins, the coalition is supporting the NHTSA message and reminding all drivers that it is dangerous to drive after drinking.
“The holiday season is a season to be merry, to give, and to have laughter and joy,” said Carrie Minor, the Safe Communities Coordinator at the Licking County Health Department, “but we also need to remember to drive sober. You have to choose your role before the drinking begins; will you drink, or will you drive?”
According to crash reports from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, last year in Licking County there were five fatalities from alcohol-related crashes. Additionally, there were 204 alcohol-related crashes that put lives at risk because someone chose to drive while impaired.
“We really want all Licking County drivers to understand you don’t have to be falling down drunk to be impaired to drive,” said Minor. “For some people, it doesn’t take much to reach the legal limit of a .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) or higher. That’s why local law enforcement agencies are working to spread the message that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.”
So this holiday season the Safe Communities Coalition is urging residents to plan ahead. If someone is planning to celebrate with alcohol, they should plan to stay in one location for the night or designate a sober driver. If someone plans on drinking at all, they should not plan on driving.
The Safe Community Coalition is handing out materials to local bars and restaurants with the “Tis the Season to Drive Sober” message as a friendly reminder to drivers this holiday season. Additionally, they have put together these eight facts and tips to help residents stay safe this driving season:
- Even one drink can impair judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of getting arrested for drunk driving or being in crash.
- If planning to drink, do not plan on driving. Designate a sober driver before the party begins.
- Leave keys at home or give them to someone else once drinks have started to flow.
- If drinking, do not drive – even if it is a short distance. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. Newark Yellow Cab can be reached at (740) 345-3334.
- Try NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, which allows users to call a taxi or a friend by identifying their location so they can be picked up.
- Walking while impaired can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Designate a sober friend to walk home with.
- If a drunk driver is on the road, contact local law enforcement by dialing #677.
- If someone is thinking about driving while impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely
Most importantly the coalition is reminding people it is never okay to drive after drinking; even a little bit to drink could still be over the legal limit. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.
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“The Licking County Health Department serves more than 160,000 citizens in the Licking County General Health District by preventing disease, protecting the environment and promoting healthy lifestyles with a vision of healthy people living in healthy communities.”
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