Don't Drive Buzzed This Holiday

If you're planning on going out tonight for New Year's festivities and having a few cocktails, take some time to consider your safety — and that of others — before you do.

Johnston Police Deputy Chief David DeCesare said during a recent interview that local officers will be on patrol looking out for drivers who appear to be intoxicated as part of the state's new "Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over" effort aimed at reducing deaths and injuries that result from impaired driving.

Last year, approximately 10,500 people died in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. Historically, holiday periods have shown higher incidences of alcohol-impaired driving crashes, so whether you're at a holiday party, a New Year’s Eve bash at a bar or reveling with friends, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are reminding everyone that the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you head out for your festivities.

Here are seven ways to stay safe this holiday:

• Use one of the NHTSA's fun, holiday-themed posters on your blog or Facebook page
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely
• Use your community’s sober ride program
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement
• Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If you know people who are about to drive or ride with someone who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Check out these New Year's Eve-friendly options for a safe evening:

  •        Designated Driver Drink List — One of the most important things you can do before going out is designate a sober driver. If you’re throwing a party, make sure to offer non-alcoholic drinks for the sober drivers. We’ve compiled a Facebook tab with 50 non-alcoholic party drink recipes.

•        Alternative Ride Locator — This is a Facebook tab with a list of nationwide alternative ride programs that can help keep you and your friends safe.

•        Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving website — Visitors can pledge not to drink and drive; play “Spot the Difference,” an interactive game that simulates the effects of buzzed driving; and watch a real-life video about how buzzed driving changed one woman’s life.