Be Safe: Celebrate responsibly for the new year
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Maybe it's the staying up past midnight. Maybe it's the saying goodbye to one year and hello to another. Maybe it's all the good food and company. Something about New Year's Eve makes plenty of people over-indulge. It's fun; it's an excuse for one more party before the dark, cold days of January and February set in.
But if your indulgence includes alcohol -- maybe even more alcohol than usual -- make preparations to be responsible about it.
According to SafeAuto.com, there are 71% more crashes with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor between 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. Jan. 1 than on the average weekend night throughout the year. The National Safety Council compiles data that has led it to estimate there could be 408 motor vehicle fatalities over the New Year's holiday period (6 p.m. today through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2).
What a horrific thing on a holiday that is supposed to be the celebration of new beginnings.
Please, if you are planning to celebrate this weekend, think ahead. If you suspect you will over do it, plan for a ride home -- or stay where you are, if the host has a spare bed or couch. Call a cab or a rideshare service; have a designated driver … do whatever it takes to avoid driving under the influence. And hosts, understand your own responsibility. Try not to over serve, provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverage options, be willing to help arrange rides home for people or provide that spare bed or couch.
We've made it through another year; and we are eager to see what the new one will bring. Be smart, safe and responsible so that we can ALL kick it off right.