PRINCETON, W. Va. -On New Year’s Eve, many people enjoy traditions like parties or spending time with loved ones. However, if your New Year’s traditions involve alcohol, you should probably stay off the roads.
Unfortunately, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department tells us drinking and driving is an all-too-common occurrence around the new year.
The department’s Lt. Adam Ballard, with Region 8 of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, says the Christmas and New Years time frame consistently sees an uptick in DUI cases, so much so that the department has additional funding for impaired driving patrols during this time.
He says social events cause people to drink more than they normally would and do things they normally wouldn’t.
“You know, when… you’re drinking, and the first drink or two, you start to feel the buzz, and you’re like, ‘Oh, maybe I shouldn’t drive,’ but then after you get three or four in, you sometimes lose that good judgement, and that good judgement and impairment is what happens, and that’s why usually people get on the road when they shouldn’t,” says Lt. Ballard.
Lt. Ballard says no matter how good of a driver you think you are, once your blood alcohol content (BAC) starts to rise, your reaction time is slowed, and your vehicle won’t respond the way you expect, something he says they are able to demonstrate through impaired driving simulators.
“We have simulators throughout the state that… we put students through very often, and once that BAC starts increasing, even though they are fully aware and sober in that seat, the vehicle doesn’t respond the way they think it does, and it works the same way in real life; even though you think you are in control of the vehicle, your judgement is slowed down, your reaction time is slowed down…” says Lt. Ballard.
And with the rain or snow expected on this year’s New Year’s Eve, you’ll definitely need your wits about you as you hit the road.
“Slick roads and rain and darkness if you’re out on New Year’s Eve, that can all add to crashes, you know? And then if you add impairment in with it, it’s just a ‘bucket of doom’ pretty much that you’re riding around in your vehicle,” says Lt. Ballard.
Lt. Ballard says impaired driving crashes are frequent this time of year, with it causing an average of about one thousand deaths nationally in December alone. However, there is a solution:
“Plan ahead… Before you go out to have those celebrations and planning on indulging in anything that is going to impair your judgment, make sure that you’ve got something in place, somebody that can drive you home or pick you up, so that way you’re not endangering yourself or anybody else on the road,” says Lt. Ballard.
Whether you plan on being sober or not this New Year’s Eve, you may potentially share the road with those who are impaired, which is why Lt. Ballard says it’s very important for every person in the car to keep their seatbelt buckled. The life you save could be your own.
If you do see a driver out on the road that you believe to be impaired, Lt. Ballard says to call 911. Also, be sure to note the vehicle description, location, and what direction they are headed.
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