With Independence Day fast approaching, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have joined forces to promote a familiar message.
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. It’s punishable by law, and dangerous for individuals and families traveling during the holidays.
Last year in Kentucky, 83 crashes involved drunken or drugged drivers during the Fourth of July weekend. It resulted in 36 injuries and four deaths.
What’s worse; they were completely, 100% preventable.
KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said drivers must understand that drugs and alcohol don’t just hinder one’s ability to drive, and also affect judgments about when and whether one should be driving. Someone might think they’re fine, but even the slightest inebriation can delay reaction times and hand-eye coordination.
The NHTSA has several tips for drivers heading into the party weekend:
— Before the festivities begin, plan a way to get home at the end of the night safely.
— If you’re impaired, use a ride-booking company, taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation to get home.
— If you see an impaired driver, pull over and contact law enforcement. KSP can be contacted toll free at 1-800-222-5555. Or dial 911.
— If you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, snag the keys and help them make feasible arrangements to get to their destination.
— And a wear a seat belt. It’s the law, and it’s the best defense against an impaired drive who makes a poor choice.
Impaired driving can also be an issue on local waterways, and many national officials are expecting crowded coves through July 4 — as high gas prices have forced many boat enthusiasts to save for “the big weekends.”
Boat Owners Association of the US, the nation’s largest advocacy group, reports that TowBoatUS’s 24-hour-call centers experienced a 22% increase in requests for aid during the Memorial Day weekend — then immediately saw a 30% drop.
The most common requests included engine breakdowns, running aground in shallows, needed jumpstarts and running out of fuel. This potential for increased traffic could naturally lead to more calls for help, and more chances for poor choices.
