Popping a cork of bubbly and sharing a toast to celebrate the arrival of the new year is a long-standing tradition.
Gathering with family and friends to usher in the new year is a time to reflect on the past and consider what the new year will bring.
Certainly, resolutions are a big part of the New Year’s Eve tradition. We’d like to see a new tradition that night: Glasses being raised, while resolutions are made not to drink and drive.
Make plans now to arrange for a taxi or hand the keys over to a designated driver before the celebrations begin.
In the last five years, 651 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, 111 in 2011 alone, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety office of Traffic Safety. Each year, nearly 30,000 people are arrested and charged with a DWI. In the last three Decembers, 2009-2011, 28 people were killed in drunk driving crashes and 7,497 were arrested for DWI.
A DWI is a certain way to ruin the holidays. And the risks of causing a crash that could involve injuries and death simply aren’t worth it.
An estimated 1,300 people have been arrested for DWI to-date in December, according to preliminary DWI arrest information from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.
In December, county sheriff’s offices, local police departments and the Minnesota State Patrol are working overtime hours during a statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign in an effort to prevent drunk driving tragedies.
The consequences of a DWI are huge. A DWI offense can result in loss of license for up to a year, thousands in costs and possible jail time.
Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges, or face at least one year without a driver’s license. Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.
There are numerous ways to avoid drinking and driving: designate a sober driver; use a taxi; or stay at the location of the celebration.
Friends and family who choose not to indulge in spirits can offer a valuable gift by offering to provide a safe ride home.
And everyone should buckle up, which is a good defense should a drunk driver cause a crash.
If you see someone you believe is driving drunk, do all members of your community a favor and report it to law enforcement officials. A 911 call when witnessing an impaired driver can get that driver off the road before they hurt themselves or someone else. Be prepared to provide the location of the drunk driver, a license plate and description of the vehicle, and the dangerous behavior observed.
Be prepared to celebrate the new year safely. There is no excuse for drunk driving and there are plenty of safe alternatives.
