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Keep the holiday cheer alive Dont drink and drive
JACKSON, MISS. With the Christmas holiday season ending, everyone has sights set on ringing in 2018. New Years Eve is one of the most dangerous days of the year. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) urges all motorists to have a New Years resolution of no drinking and driving.
December is an exciting time of year with fun festivities, but it becomes dangerous when drivers get behind the wheel intoxicated. In December 2016 in Mississippi, five people were killed in alcohol-related crashes and another 157 people were injured.
It may be the start of the New Year, but we have the same goal for 2018 of zero fatalities from drunk driving in our state, said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT executive director. Drunk driving is never worth it, and the consequences are very severe for those who do it.
Alcohol-related death rates have gone down in recent years. In Mississippi, there were 51 drunk-driving related fatalities in 2016 compared to 70 in 2015. However, one alcohol-related death on Mississippi roadways is too many.
Last year, MDOT joined other state departments of transportation and highway safety advocacy groups by adopting the Towards Zero Deaths (TZD) campaign. TZD is a national safety strategy to bring stakeholders together towards a common vision a highway system free of fatalities through a sustained decline in transportation-related deaths and injuries. To learn more about the TZD initiative, visit GoMDOT.com/TZD.
Zero deaths on highways should be the goal for Mississippi. There is never a valid excuse for getting behind the wheel if any alcohol has been consumed, McGrath said. If you do decide to drink, plan ahead. Before going out to celebrate, make sure a designated driver can get you to and from your destination safely. Remember, a designated driver is not someone who drank the least, but someone who has NOT been drinking.
Getting to the New Years celebration is important. Here are additional tips from MDOT that can help motorist arrive at their destination safely:
Always buckle up. Seat belts save lives and can be your best defense against injury or death.
Avoid all distractions. Concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Slow down and be mindful of construction zones and workers in the area.
Watch out for wildlife. Around the times of dawn and dusk, you are more likely to hit a deer. Slow down and use extra caution while driving during these times.
Be aware of other drivers. Dont assume everyone is driving as safely as you are.
We hope everyone enjoys celebrating the New Year with loved ones, McGrath said. Share with your loved ones the importance of planning ahead and never getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Surviving the New Years drive this yearand making it to the next yearcan be as simple as being responsible and making good decisions. If you believe that someone may be driving under the influence, pull over and call local law enforcement immediately.
For more tips on traveling safely during the holidays, visit GoMDOT.com/drivesmartms
For the most current travel and traffic information, visit MDOTTraffic.com, download the free MDOT Traffic app, call Mississippi 511 or follow and like @MississippiDOT on Twitter and Facebook.
