Plan Your New Year's Eve Celebration Now, Recommends National Commission Against Drunk Driving
30 December 1997
Play It Safe: Plan Your New Year's Eve Celebration Now, Recommends National Commission Against Drunk Driving
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 -- New Year's Eve is traditionally one of
the deadliest nights of the year for traffic crashes involving impaired
driving, so the National Commission Against Drunk Driving offers these
suggestions to keep this year's celebration a safe one.
All motorists should:
* Wear a seat belt -- it's your best defense against a drunk driver.
* Make sure all children are properly secured in appropriate child safety
seats (do not let children under 12 ride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger-side air bag).
* Report any suspected drunk drivers to police (many jurisdictions have
special numbers to report drunk drivers and other highway dangers via cellular
telephone -- it's a good idea to find out what number your local police use
and memorize it or keep it handy in the car).
Anyone planning on celebrating New Year's Eve (or any holiday) away from
home should:
* Plan your transportation ahead of time and designate a driver who won't
be drinking.
* Find out if your area has free cab rides or other services to assist
those who've had too much to drink (even if you don't plan to use such a
service yourself, make note of the information for fellow revelers).
* Check into special offers from hotels for spending the night where you
are partying.
Anyone hosting a New Year's Eve (or any other) celebration should:
* Offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverage options.
* Use shot glasses to measure liquor and don't pour strong drinks.
* Serve a lot of food, including plenty of foods rich in carbohydrates.
* Plan ahead for overnight guests if possible.
* Take the keys from anyone who has had too much to drink.
* Don't let anyone leave your home who has had too much to drink and who
is planning to drive.
During a four-day holiday period last year (from 6:00 p.m. on December 29,
1996, to 6:00 a.m. on January 2, 1997), there were 220 alcohol-related traffic
deaths on America's roadways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. This was more than half of the total deaths (420) during that
period. Of the 220 alcohol-related fatalities, 47 involved those with BAC
(blood alcohol concentration) levels of .01 percent to .09 percent, and 173
involved those with BACs of .10 percent or higher.
The National Commission Against Drunk Driving is a nonprofit organization
of private and public sector leaders who are dedicated to minimizing the human
and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes by working to make
driving impaired a socially unacceptable act. It is the successor organization
to the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, appointed by President Ronald
Reagan in 1982 to develop the first report on this national problem.
December is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
* Take the keys, call a cab, don't let your loved ones drive drunk.
* Give the gift of a lifetime, be a designated driver.
* Friday, December 19th is "Lights on for Life Day" -- drive with your
headlights on to remember those killed by drunk drivers.
SOURCE National Commission Against Drunk Driving
