The July Fourth holiday is a time to celebrate our country with friends and family. Unfortunately, many don’t plan a sober rode home from the festivities and make the dangerous mistake of getting behind the wheel.
The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirm that the weekend surrounding the Fourth of July holiday is one of the most dangerous times to be on the road, largely due to a large number of impaired drivers.
In 2011, 251 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the Fourth of July holiday (which ran from 6 p.m., July 1, to 5:59 a.m., July 5). Of those fatalities, 38 percent were in crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 grams per deciliter or higher.
Tragically, this was not a one-year trend. According to additional data from NHTSA, during July 4th holidays over the last five years (from 2007 to 2011), 780 people lost their lives in crashes involving drivers who had BACs of at least .08 g/dL. These fatalities account for 40 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities over this same five-year period.
Given the risks, law enforcement will be out in force on the roadways of Cape Coral. We encourage all drivers to follow the NHTSA’s tips to ensure a safe holiday celebration:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins;
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver;
- If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
- Use your community’s sober ride program; If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement;
- If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
Remember, whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many it’s never worth the risk to drive impaired. If law enforcement pulls you over for drunk driving, you will be arrested.
The Dellutri Law Group is focused on making bad situations better and putting lives back together. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Cape Coral accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about your legal options, contact our experienced Cape Coral injury attorneys for a free consultation.
