SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The Fourth of July is a nationwide day of celebration, with picnics and fireworks enjoyed from coast to coast. Unfortunately, many celebrations also include alcohol or drugs, which too often can lead to impaired driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year. This Independence Day, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is reminding drivers to enjoy the holiday responsibly and plan ahead for a sober ride home.
Between 2010 and 2014, 39 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period were the result of alcohol-impaired crashes. Nationally, 164 individuals with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 percent and higher were killed in 2014. In California during the holiday, an average of six people are killed and 110 are seriously injured each year.
“Planning ahead is key, especially on a night where you know you’re going to be consuming alcohol, and remember that the combination of alcohol and drugs can affect your concentration and decision making,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Being impaired not only hinders your ability to drive, it impairs your judgment about whether you can or should drive. Make sure you have a designated sober driver lined up ahead of time, and enjoy the festivities with peace of mind.”
Driving under the influence of drugs, prescription medications or alcohol means putting your life and the lives of others at risk. But there are also other costs to impaired driving. An arrest or a crash can total an average of $10,000.
OTS offers these tips to motorists and partygoers for a safe holiday:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
- Before drinking or consuming drugs, designate a sober driver.
- If you become impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely.
- Make sure to download and use the free DDVIP app to reward your designated driver with free food and drinks at their favorite restaurants and bars.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact the California Highway Patrol or call 911.
To learn more about summer safety or OTS efforts, visit www.ots.ca.gov/. Keep up to date by following OTS on Twitter at @OTS_CA or by liking the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS.
