According to Governor Rick Scott, December is “National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month.” During this time, local and state officers are on our roadways in search of intoxicated drivers through the holiday season. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and thousands of other local law enforcement departments are also pushing the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, according to WCTV. The campaign began last week and is running through January 2nd, and is aimed at helping to decrease the risks of drunk driving car accidents in Boynton Beach and elsewhere throughout the state.
Drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired accidents are some of the deadliest ones, especially during the last part of every year and through the holidays. In 2010, nearly 40 percent of car accidents during the New Year’s and Christmas holiday periods were alcohol-related.
Our Boynton Beach drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that FHP Reserve and Auxiliary troopers also will be patrolling our roadways throughout the rest of the year. With the holiday season, residents and visitors venture out to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Many of these gatherings involve alcohol, and all too often drivers hop behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after drinking.
“Safety is our focus year round at DOT. But this holiday season, we’re stepping up our efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads and reminding Americans ‘drive sober, or get pulled over,’ ” said USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood. “We’re making gains in our fight against drunk driving, but we cannot and will not let up.”
FHP is asking drivers to practice the following safety tips to avoid a drunk-driving accident:
-Plan head. If you’re going to go out drinking, make sure that you have a sober driver who can get you home safely.
-Designated driver doesn’t mean someone who is “less drunk” than you. It’s someone who has had nothing to drink.
-If you’ve been drinking and you don’t have a sober driver, call a friend or family member to help get your home, call a cab, use mass transit or stay at a hotel or friend’s home.
-If you think you’ve spotted someone on our roadways who is drunk, dial *FHP (*347) to help to get them off the road. You can also use this number to request assistance if your car has broken down.
“Impaired driving continues to be a priority for law enforcement in the state, and the Florida Highway Patrol will be intensifying enforcement during the holidays,” said FHP Director, Col. David Brierton. “Our goal is to create the safest possible driving environment by modifying driver behavior – and helping drivers make better decisions.”
We ask all drivers to be cautious at the wheel and to be patient with the heightened volume of traffic. Practice responsible driving habits and ring in the near year injury free.
Freeman & Mallard is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm dedicated to helping motorists who have been injured in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and the Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce areas. Call today for a free consultation. Call 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
MADD and the NFL Team Up to Prevent Drunk Driving-Related Teen Car Accidents in Hollywood and Elsewhere, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, December 9, 2011
Drunk Driving Accidents Expected to Increase with Alcohol-Serving Fast Food Chains, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, July 14, 2011