Safety first when heading out for New Years
A New Year is arriving and while social distancing is still highly encouraged, there will be those who will be out on the road this holiday. In an effort to reduce the amount of accidents that occur
According to statistics, in 2019 the State of Texas alone saw 24,617 DUI crashes. Crashes which involved alcohol impaired driving accidents included motor vehicle collisions, property damage, and fatalities. A c cording to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, nationally there are 300,000 incidents per day linked to drinking and driving.
“Drinking and driving is a choice. While many are not getting behind the wheel with the intention of hurting someone on their way to the next destination, the fact of the matter is someone could get hurt, someone could get killed, and someone's life could forever be altered,” Ashley Teel, recent accident victim, said. “
Teel and her children, along with her fiance at the time, were hit head on by a drunk driver about a month and a half ago. The driver had just recently left his home and was headed to a bar when he collided with Teel's vehicle as they were heading home. The children ended up with seatbelt burns and minor injures, while Teel had to have surgery to repair her shattered arm. Her fiance ended up with a traumatic brain injury and minor injuries on the outside. Once an alcoholic drink is consumed it can take the body one to two hours to process a drink. Keeping with that process, for every drink consumed one should wait an hour before driving. However, even though consumption has stopped alcohol levels can continue to rise over the next few hours while the body processes the alcohol.
“Drinking and Driving is not only about you but others on the road around you. You may know the path you are going to travel, but you never know something unexpected will cross that path or change up your direction needing to be traveled.. ” Teel said. “Life changes in a matter of seconds.”
Drunk driving accidents statistically tend to increase around the holidays, especially on New Years Eve. Drinking and driving related accidents can change the lives of those who choose to get behind the wheel intoxicated and their families, and possibly other families. One person's choice can have a ripple effect that may not fully be understood.
“Do not be the reason peoples lives change forever just because of the decision you make to get behind the wheel,” Teel said.
A DWI or DUI could end up costing