Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
The month of December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and with good reason. With all of our holiday parties and gatherings, many will be celebrating the occasion with a few drinks. Unfortunately, many of these celebrators will be hopping in their vehicle and driving home afterward.
Officials with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) use the month of December to raise awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Bruce and Cheryl Scheiner and the entire Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner family has long been supporters of MADD and local law enforcement in the fight against the devastating consequences of drunk driving.
Our Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyers understand that the month of December is one of the busiest months on our roadways. It’s also one of the most dangerous times of the year because of the increase in drunk drivers. During December of last year, there were more than 800 people killed in drunk driving car accidents in the U.S. Alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than an estimated $37 billion annually.
We want to make sure that everyone enjoys this joyous time of the year, but we want to make sure that everyone enjoys it safely.
It’s important to remember that drunk driving accidents are completely preventable. This is a violent crime that we need to put an end to.
Tips To Prevent Drinking And Driving:
-Choose a designated driver. Decide who’s going to be doing the driving before you go out, and make sure that person doesn’t drink any alcoholic beverages.
-Offer non-alcoholic beverages or mocktails for non-drinking designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.
-Eat food while you drink. Food, especially high protein food such as meat, cheese and peanuts, will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your body.
-Operating under the influence will cost you money. The average total cost (fines, fees, surcharges, etc.) for a first time conviction is approximately $7800. Subsequent convictions bring higher costs and imprisonment.
-Remember that your best defense against a drunk driver is wearing your safety belt.
-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.
-Be a Good Host – If you’re hosting family or friends this holiday season, don’t let anyone drink and drive. Be a good host and have plenty of bedding just in case people need a place to crash.
-Keep an eye on your teens, too. Know their friends and their parents. Make a pack to monitor each other’s kids and pledge that there will be no unsupervised parties.
-If possible, drivers should try to stay off the road between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m., when drunk driving accidents are most likely, according to research from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
-If a friend or family member has had too much to drink and insists on driving, reason with her and persuade her to hand over the keys.
It’s simply not a wise choice to get behind the wheel no matter how much you have had to drink. The only safe driving limit is .00 percent.
Before you head out to your holiday gathering, make sure you take part in the online celebration of life candlelight vigil, and pay for respects or light a virtual candle in honor of a loved one who was killed or injured in a drunk driving crash.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured. Call for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
SWFL Drunk Driving Enforcement a Holiday Priority , Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, December 11, 2013
Americans Addicted to Distracted Driving Despite Dangers, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, December 10, 2013
