Calvert County, MD—The
holiday season is right around the corner. As Americans prepare for festivities
with family and friends, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
wants to remind all drivers that it’s dangerous to drive after drinking. You
have to choose your role before
drinking begins: will you drink or will you drive? Remember, even if you only
have a little bit to drink and think you’re “okay to drive,” you could still be
over the legal limit, because Buzzed
Driving Is Drunk Driving.
Sheriff
Mike Evans explained the slogan: “A lot of folks think they know their own
limits. They think that if they’re just a little ‘buzzed,’ then they’re still
good to drive. “Time and again, drivers who may have only had a couple of drinks
put themselves and others at serious risk,” he added. “Driving with any alcohol
in your system can be dangerous.”
In
every state in the country, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. And for some
people, it doesn’t take much to reach that level. “We really want all drivers
to understand that you don’t have to be falling-down drunk to be too impaired
to drive,” said Sheriff Evans. That’s why the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office is working with NHTSA to spread the
message: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
This anti-drunk-driving
campaign aims to inform all Americans about the dangers of driving after
drinking—even after drinking just a little. Drunk driving has become a terrible
killer on our nation’s roads. Every year, more than 10,322 people are killed by
drunk drivers in America. This time of year is especially dangerous due to holiday
celebrations and frequent parties. In December 2012 alone, there were 830
people killed in crashes involving at least one drunk driver or motorcycle
operator. On average, a third (31%) of all crash fatalities in America involves
drunk driving.
So this holiday season, NHTSA
urges you to plan ahead: designate a sober driver. If you plan on drinking at
all, don’t plan on driving. Don’t just assume that you’ll know whether you can
safely drive or not at the end of the night.
In Calvert, Sheriff Evans
urges drivers, please remember these tips to avoid a DUI and keep our roads
safe:
·
Even one drink
can impair your judgment and reaction time and increase the risk of getting
arrested for driving drunk or having a crash.
·
If you will be
drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan
ahead; designate a sober driver before the party begins.
·
When you know
you’ll be drinking, leave your keys at home or give them to someone else.
·
If you have been
drinking, do not drive—even a short distance. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend
or family member, or use public transportation.
Remember, it is never okay to drive
after drinking. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk
Driving.
