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2016 Cinco De Mayo Drunk Driving Prevention

Cinco de Mayo is a historical day celebrating Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a day to celebrate with friends and family, eat some good Mexican food, and drink some cold brews and salty margaritas. But when it comes to road safety, Cinco de Mayo is not a day to be celebrated. Below are some national cold hard facts about “Cinco de Drinko”.

  • The Cinco de Mayo holiday period (6:00 p.m. May 4 to 5:59 a.m. May 6) is especially deadly on our nation’s roads, with more than one-third of all crash fatalities from 2010-2014 involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. In fact, from 2010-2014, there were 268 people killed in drunk-driving crashes over the Cinco de Mayo holiday period, with 33 people killed in 2014 alone.
  • Over the 2014 Cinco de Mayo holiday period, almost one-fifth (18%) of drivers in fatal crashes had BACs of .15 or higher—that’s almost twice the legal limit in every state.
  • Twenty-five percent (25%) of drivers in those fatal crashes had BACs of .08 or higher. That’s a sobering statistic.
  • Fortunately, Cinco de Mayo holiday period drunk-driving fatalities have decreased slightly from 90 in 2012 (45% of all crash fatalities), to 65 in 2013 (40% of all crash fatalities), to 33 people in 2014 (33% of all crash fatalities).

Let’s not become another sobering crash statistic. Think about it and designate a sober driver. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. When you drive drunk, you risk killing yourself or someone else. And if you live, you risk your freedom, time, money, and much more. You will be looking at jail time, the loss of your driver’s license, and attorney and court fees. Your car or motorycycle could be totaled, leaving you without. Your insurance rates will sky rocket and you could incure numerous other expenses. Keep in mind the average DUI costs about $10,000. Wouldn’t it be smarter and cheaper just to arrange for a ride home? For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov.

Tips for Getting Home Tipsy:

  •  If you are planning on drinking, leave your car keys at home.
  • Know how you’re getting home before you start drinking.
  • Save the phone numbers of Uber or local taxi companies in your phone.
  • Download NHTSA’s SaferRide app, available on iTunes or your can find it through Google Play. The app allows you to pinpoint your location and helps you call a friend or local taxi to pick you up.
  • If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
  • If you can’t find a safe ride or you choose to walk home, remember that walking impaired can be dangerous, too. Find a sober friend to walk you home.

 

Facts courtesy of Traffic Safety Marketing