Martinez, CA – The 4th of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. But the holiday quickly goes from festive to fatal when people choose to drive after drinking. From 2009-2013, nearly 40% of all traffic fatalities over the 4th of July period occurred in alcohol-involved crashes. Of the five major holiday periods of the year in California, the 4th of July ranks as having the highest daily fatality rate.
Over the 4th of July holiday period in 2013 alone (6 p.m. July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. July 8th), there were 199 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes on our nation’s roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In California, 28 individuals were killed in alcohol-involved crashes.
To crack down on impaired driving this 4th of July, the Avoid the 25 anti-DUI task force will be out in force throughout the county, aggressively targeting those who drive while impaired. DUI checkpoints are planned along with specialized patrols aimed at impaired drivers.
NHTSA data shows that 10,076 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States in 2013—representing almost a third of all crash fatalities. By comparison, during the July 4th period that year, 39 percent of all crash fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers.
If you’re caught driving while impaired, you will be arrested. Aside from putting your life and the lives of others at risk, driving impaired can also lead to serious consequences. A DUI arrest can mean time in jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses; the average DUI costs about $10,000.
Law enforcement region-wide is asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer long:
- Plan a safe way home before the fun begins.
- Before drinking, designate a sober driver.
- DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area. Users can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to drink but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.
- If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate – “Report Drunk Drivers! Call 911!”
Funding for the Avoid the 25 anti-DUI campaign is by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
