Fourth of July weekend is a time for barbecues, fireworks and family. Many people like to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two, but this becomes a problem when deciding to get behind the wheel. This holiday weekend has repeatedly been ranked on numerous sources as the deadliest holiday of the year— even more so than New Year’s Day. Sometimes it’s due to alcohol, and sometimes it’s not. Nonetheless, this weekend has repeatedly been considered a very dangerous time to get behind the wheel.
You Drink, You Drive, You Lose
Saturation Patrols
By now you are probably familiar with the MoDOT slogan “You drink, you drive, you lose.” This is especially true on holiday weekends. If you have had an alcoholic drink, don’t even think about driving. Make plans in advance for a taxi or designated driver if you must get back home. St. Louis area police have announced an increase of sobriety checkpoints and DWI saturation patrols over the holiday weekend starting on July 3rd.
Fatalities
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), 780 people died from 2007-2011 in crashes due to driving with a BAC of more than .08%. Forty percent, or 312 people died on the 4th of July. That’s an average of more than 62 people per year! Don’t take a risk. Even driving “buzzed” puts you and others at risk for legal trouble or a fatal crash.
Not all crashes are alcohol-related. Increased traffic congestion increases the risk of getting into a crash, so try to stay off the road during this weekend if you can. If you do decide to drive over the Fourth of July weekend, get your car in for a checkup beforehand. Call Meyer’s Automotive to keep your car running properly on road trips and check out our car care tips to improve gas mileage.