New Year DUI Safety Tips

New Year�s Eve and New Year�s Day have a reputation for being one of the deadliest driving days of the year. While summer holidays typically have a higherfatality rate-particularly for DUI fatalities-the New Year holiday certainly earns its reputation for a high accident rate.

Last year in Oklahoma, there were six fatality accidents during the New Year holiday, which spanned 30 hours beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, December31, 2014, and ending at midnight on Friday, January 1, 2015. Six people were killed in these accidents, including three people killed in alcohol-involvedaccidents.

That was a significant increase over the previous two years. For New Year 2014, there were two accident fatalities in Oklahoma, and the prior yearsaw three fatalities.

The years 2011 and 2012 had higher fatality rates for the New Year holiday, with eight and seven, respectively.

Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce your risk of being involved in an accident on New Year�s Eve or in the early morning hours of New Year�sDay.

• Always appoint a designated driver
• If you do not have a friend or family member to serve as a sober driver, find a sober ride home: call a cab, utilize a ride-sharing app, or contactyour local AAA office to find a Tipsy Tow to get you and your car home safely. In Oklahoma, AAA Tipsy Tow is available in Metro Tulsa, MetroOklahoma City, Shawnee, Bartlesville, Enid, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Ardmore and Lawton.
• Never leave your drink unattended.
• Consider renting a limousine or service that will provide rides for everyone in your group so no one drives impaired.
• Rent a hotel room near where you will be celebrating so you will have a convenient place to stay.

If you are hosting a party or entertaining guests, there are strategies you can take to prevent your guests from driving impaired:

• Make sure you have plenty of food and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages.
• As your guests RSVP before the party, ask each if he or she has a designated driver or a plan for a sober ride home.
• Open up your home to overnight guests so that anyone who has had too much to drink can sleep it off before attempting to drive.
• Keep the number of a local taxi company handy to call a ride for guests who are impaired by alcohol.

The Law Firm of Oklahoma wishes you a safe and happy New Year.