Holiday travelers, please drive carefully.
There will be a lot of you on the roads this week, 6.4 million in Florida and 107 million nationwide, according to auto club AAA’s holiday traffic predictions. And this month is a bad one for drunk driving crashes.
“In December, there is an increase in drunk driving accidents,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said last week. “These accidents ruin lives and can destroy families. The good news is they are 100% preventable. It’s simple, never drink and drive – instead, designate a driver, or use a ridesharing service. Follow this simple advice and we can all enjoy a happy, safe holiday season.”
Last year, there were 507 alcohol-impaired crashes in Florida during that month alone, more than any other month in 2023, the attorney general’s office said in a release.
Tips to drive safely during the holiday season
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Attorney General’s office have suggestions on how to make sure you get where you’re going safely.
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Never drive impaired: Celebrate responsibly and do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking or you’ve taken drugs that cause impairment. Plan ahead and find a safe way home every time with a designated driver or ride service.
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Check your tires: Check your tire pressure, tread depth and spare tire, especially before long trips. Do not overload your vehicle, it can result in premature wear and tire blowouts.
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Buckle up: Florida law requires that all drivers, all front seat passengers and all passengers under the age of 18 wear seat belts or the appropriate child restraints. Seat belts save lives, so buckle up every trip, every time.
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Register or update your Emergency Contact Information (ECI): ECI is a secure system that allows law enforcement across the country to contact your designated family or friends in response to an emergency situation.
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Observe and obey all speed limits: Speed limits may change as you drive through different types of roadways, so make sure you adjust your speed accordingly. In Florida, the limit will never be over 70 mph.
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Never drive distracted: Keep your eyes on the road, especially at times like the holidays when there may be impaired drivers around you. Do not manually text or operate your phone while driving, that’s unsafe and against Florida law.
From Highway to Holiday, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ program to encourage safe driving during the 2024 holiday season.
Call for a ride with Tow to Go program
Since 1998, the American Automobile Association has offered a Tow to Go program, a free, confidential ride for impaired drivers and their vehicles when they don’t have a safe alternative even if they are not an AAA member.
Drivers without a safe way to get home can call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246 and get themselves and their vehicle transported home or somewhere safe, within 10 miles.
To find out more, click here.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Drunk driving at its worst this month, Florida AG says. How to stay safe