When you think of drunk drivers, you may associate an increased risk with the winter holiday season. But the research demonstrates just the opposite. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that summer is by far the worst season for drunk drivers. As the weather warms up and the season’s long weekends begin, it’s time to revisit and recommit to protecting your safety on the road.
Take a Proactive, Preventive Stance
The NHTSA advises drivers to take all possible precautions when on the road to improve your odds of staying safe and avoiding a collision with a drunk driver. Always make sure that everyone in the car is wearing his or her seat belt and wearing it correctly. Keep kids in car seats and make sure they are used and attached correctly. Keep your car in good working order and make sure to check your tire pressure and tread wear regularly. Finally, never drive after drinking, even if you’ve only had one or two drinks. As the NHTSA’s public information campaign says, buzzed driving is drunk driving. Even if you aren’t over the legal limit for blood alcohol content, you will be putting your passengers and other drivers at risk.
Teens Who Drink and Drive
The summertime, specifically the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, has been labeled as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teenagers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 15 percent of kids 18 to 20 and almost 6 percent of those ages 16 and 17 drive drunk during this period. The Independence Day holiday, especially when it falls close to a weekend, is the worst part of the summer, followed closely by the two long weekends that begin and end during this period. Help keep the teenagers in your life from harming others and themselves this year. The Contract for Life suggested by SADD** is a great place to start.
Steering Clear of Drunk Drivers
The amount of traffic on the freeways increases significantly over the summer, as families venture forth to visit friends and loved ones and to take advantage of their kids’ summer breaks. You can improve your odds of staying safe by remaining diligent behind the wheel and not engaging in distracted driving. If you can avoid driving during the “witching hours” of midnight to 3 a.m., you improve your odds of not encountering a drunk driver on the road. Weekends are also worse, especially Saturday nights. Even if you’re not in your car, beware of drunk drivers. Pedestrian deaths from alcohol-related accidents also increase during this time.
The professional attorneys of the Montgomery Law Offices understand that, no matter how careful you are, it’s not always possible to avoid drunk drivers. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident with an impaired driver, contact Montgomery Dowdle Law Offices today. Stay safe on the road this summer and always take care to watch out for drunk drivers.