As we get closer and closer to Christmas and the New Year, it’s important to keep our roads safe. Nationally over the past five years, an average of 300 people died in drunk driving crashes the week between Christmas and New Year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in 2018 there were over 10,000 drunk driving fatalities in the United States with nearly 400 of those happened in Georgia and almost 300 in South Carolina. FOX 54 spoke to locals who said they were shocked by the deadly numbers.
“Staggering waste of life. There is no telling what those individuals would have been able to do for society had they lived a little bit longer,” said Daniel Ware.
Here are tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to ensure you stay safe this holiday season:
– Plan a safe ride home before you start the party or use a ride sharing service.
– Do not let those you know who are drinking drive.
Doctor Mark Newton at Doctors Hospital tells FOX 54 it’s a difficult conversation to tell a family that their loved one died due to a careless tragedy caused by drunk driving.
“It’s a devastating conversation that tears our hearts out. We have to work closely with the corners office and they have some stories. They’ve told us of the doors they have had to go knock on. People remember you don’t wanna be responsible for them knocking on someone’s door and that devastating scream that often comes,” explained Dr. Newton.
Dr. Newton said you can keep holiday celebrations merry and bright but don’t take a needless chance and get behind the wheel drunk.
Source: WFXG
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