Stay safe this holiday season – designate a sober driver

People who plan to drink at holiday parties can stay safe and keep others safe by always having a designated driver. 
    
Wyoming has seen about 32 fatalities related to alcohol crashes in 2017, preliminary figures from the Wyoming Department of Transportation showed. 

On the national level, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2016. Of those fatalities, 28 percent (10,497) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08, information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated.

NHTSA’s figures also showed that over the past five years, an average of 300 people died in drunk driving crashes between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

On average a driving under the influence offense can cost a person about $10,000 in court costs, attorney fees, lost time at work and higher insurance rates.

NHSTA offers several tips of making the holidays safer. People can:11

• Plan ahead and have a designated driver if they have a drink. 
• Serve as the designated driver. People should take this role seriously and not drink. 
• Call for a taxi or ride if they need a ride home.
• Notify law enforcement if they see a drunk driver on the road.

People should always remember it’s never safe to drink and drive, even if they’ve only had one drink.

Watch a video from the WHP urging motorists to stay safe this holiday season.