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According to AAA, the Fourth of July holiday is just around the corner and more than 47 million Americans are expected to travel for the holiday weekend. Americans are extremely eager to get away, and AAA predicts this holiday weekend will see the second-highest number of travelers on record, only surpassed by 2019 when 48.9 million people traveled.
With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, Hasty Pope would like to wish you a happy, festive holiday- but with an added reminder to stay safe and not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. Whether you are celebrating on the beach or barbecuing with friends, it is important to celebrate safely by planning and designating a non-drinking driver if plans include alcohol. Compared to other holidays, the Fourth of July ranks as the deadliest holiday in terms of DUI fatalities. This means that someone is more likely to lose their life on the 4th of July than on New Year’s, Christmas, Labor Day, or Memorial Day. Tragically, that also means many lose loved ones in crashes where alcohol is involved on the 4th of July. From 2015 to 2019, there were 1,339 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the Fourth of July holiday period – 38% of the drivers killed were drunk (NHSTA.gov).
We at Hasty Pope, are familiar with the devastation caused by holiday accidents and urge everyone to put safety first. Here are some tips to help you celebrate safely!
Tips to Celebrate Safely
- If you plan to drink, make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home.
- If you cannot find a sober friend to take you home, call Uber or Lyft to ensure a safe trip home.
- A sober driver does not drink at all, not the one who has had the least to drink.
- Never get into a car with an impaired driver or allow your friends to drive drunk. If your friend is too impaired to drive and is attempting to do so, take their keys and make arrangements to get them home safely.
- Pace your drinking. Many people start drinking early in the day and continue right up until the fireworks display. With the July heat, alcohol can cause you to become extremely dehydrated so set a limit to the number of drinks you will consume and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages.
- Drunk boating is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Just like driving under the influence, it is illegal to drink and operate a boat in all 50 states. If you plan on spending your holiday on the water, it is important for the driver to hold back on drinking until everyone is back on dry land.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.
At Hasty Pope, we wish you a joyful holiday and remind you to celebrate safely with family and friends!