Holiday checklist: Line up a sober ride
This holiday season, the Department of Public Safety reminds people not to forget to line up a sober ride, as the Christmas holiday period ranks as the second deadliest for drunk-driving related fatalities compared with other major holidays in Minnesota.
On average, 320 people are arrested for DWI and 600 crashes result in at least two deaths and six life-changing injuries.
Nearly half of the fatalities will be drunk driving related, and about one in four serious injuries will be alcohol-related.
Don’t let drunk driving
ruin your holiday cheer
In the last five years (2010 through 2014), the Christmas reporting period resulted in 1,590 DWIs, 13 deaths, six of which were drunk-driving related and 33 life-changing injuries, eight of which were alcohol-related.
The extra DWI enforcement campaign started Nov. 25 and runs on weekends through Jan. 2. The statewide enforcement involves police departments, sheriff’s offices and the State Patrol.
During the first three weeks of the campaign, law enforcement took 1,487 drunk drivers off Minnesota roads, compared with 1,527 DWIs during the same time last year.
To prevent drunk driving:
•Plan for a safe ride – designate a sober driver, use a cab/public transportation or stay at the location of the celebration.
•Offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere.
•Buckle up – the best defense against a drunk driver.
•Report drunk driving – call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide the location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.