Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
The holidays present some of the most dangerous driving conditions of the entire year.
According to Allstate, there were close to 475 people arrested for drunk driving, and another 40,000 cited, during the holiday period in 2011. That time consisted of December 16th through January 3rd. This year, the efforts start on the 12th of December!
Officials are out in force looking for those who thinks it’s a good idea to get behind the wheel after having too much to drink. It’s all a part of their holiday drunk driving campaign. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and other local enforcement agencies will be pushing the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” initiative.
Our Royal Palm Beach injury attorneys understand that there are close to 400,000 car accidents in the state of Florida each year. Many of these accident happen over the holiday period.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal drunk driving accidents accounted for more than 30 percent of the fatal accidents recorded in 2010. That means that there were more than 750 people killed in car accidents in which at least one driver was under the influence of alcohol. All of these accidents could have been avoided!
“Motorists who operate their vehicles in an unsafe fashion are a danger that puts innocent lives at risk,” says Florida Highway Patrol director Colonel John Czernis.
If you’re heading out over the holiday period, you’re asked to head out with a plan and to keep safety as a top priority. If you know you’re going to be consuming alcohol then you’re asked to go out with a designated driver. If you don’t have one of those, then you’re asked to take advantage of taxi cab services. You could even call a friend or a family member to have them come pick you up or you could use public transportation.
Another way you could help roadway safety is by reporting any drunk drivers you see on our roadways. You can report them by calling the FHP at *347 or by calling 9-1-1.
If you see a friend of a family member that’s been drinking and is about to get behind the wheel, take the keys from them! Help them to find a safe and sober way to get home. Never let your loved ones run into any danger. Your intervention could save lives.
“The holiday season can be an especially dangerous time on our nation’s roadways due to drunk drivers – that’s why law enforcement officers will be out in full force,” said U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary, Ray LaHood.
We would like to wish you a safe and Happy Holiday season and ask that you and your family stay safe and sober behind the wheel.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving accident, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 1-800-561-7777 today!
More Blog Entries:
Risks of Drunk Driving Accidents in Lantana and Elsewhere Reduced with more IIDs, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, June 29, 2012
Drunk Driving Accidents in Fort Lauderdale and Elsewhere Alarmingly Common, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, June 15, 2012