from Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office
Traffic Safety Resource Office is partnering with local law enforcement officials and other health and safety advocates to help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Even one alcoholic beverage could be one too many so if you plan to drive, refrain from alcohol.
If you do plan to enjoy some witch’s brew, be sure to plan for a sober ride home.
Read these scary stats and commit to sober driving today.
- Approximately one-third of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs at or above .08). In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in drunk-driving crashes.
- In 2020, 56 people were killed on Halloween night in drunk-driving crashes.
- Adults between the ages of 21 and 34 had the highest percentage (68%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2020.
- Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2020 one person was killed every 45 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
The Cost of Drunk Driving
- The average DUI costs $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, and more.
- If you’re caught drinking and driving, you can face jail time. That arrest will follow you for many years to come.
- Drinking and driving can cause you to lose your driver’s license and your vehicle. This could prevent you from getting to work, resulting in lost wages and, potentially, job loss.
Plan for a Safe Celebration
Always remember to plan ahead when you will be celebrating with alcohol. If you plan to drink, make arrangements for a sober driver to take you home. Before you start celebrating this Halloween, look over these safety tips to keep you, your loved ones, and everyone else safe on the road.
· Plan ahead: If you wait until you’ve been drinking to make a smart decision, you might not. Before you have one drink, designate a sober driver who won’t be drinking.
· You have options: designate a sober driver, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service. Getting home safely is always worth it.
· If it’s your turn to be the designated driver, take your job seriously and don’t drink.
· If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 911.
Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and let a sober driver get your friend home safely.