New Year, Safe Driving

 

 
The amount of traffic fatalities on American roads sadly always spikes around holidays, but there is no holiday that is worse than New Year’s Eve for causing wrecks. The main problem no doubt comes from the lethal combination of large groups of revelers staying up late, partying, and drinking. This makes for a dangerous situation behind the wheel.

However, it does not have to be this way. An increasing number of people are acknowledging the serious and unique risks that come on New Year’s Eve, and are trying their best to do something about it.

And it doesn’t take much.

The most important factor of all is proper planning and preparation. Those who come out of New Year’s still safe and alive are the ones who take each of the necessary precautions before they even take one step out of the door.

The main advantage that a special occasion, such as this one, gives people is that it is a predetermined date, and we all know—for the most part—what to expect. We know if we are going out or staying in, what sort of event we will be attending, whether we will be drinking, and so on. As such, there really should be no excuse not to make the proper plans before it happens.

Responsible car owners this New Year’s Eve will be the ones who leave their car at home. Or they will be the ones who volunteer to be the designated driver, or organize a safe ride home. There are now tons of easy-to-use ridesharing apps, and taxis that will be less likely to hike prices for the holiday. Many cities have excellent public transport, and initiatives to keep trains running and prices low all night.

If all else fails, there are plenty of fun New Year’s Eve activities that can be enjoyed either sober, or from the comfort of your own home. In fact, who wants to be stuck at an hours long party, yet again, anyway?

This December 31st, let’s make sure we make it a good one—and make sure that each one of us survives to prosper in 2016. Happy New Year everyone, and safe travels!