New Year’s Day one of the worst for fatalities

AAA Mid-Atlantic is reminding drivers and passengers alike of the dangers on the roads this New Year’s Day.

As Pennsylvania residents prepare for New Year’s celebrations, AAA Mid-Atlantic is reminding drivers and passengers alike of the dangers on the roads this New Year’s Day, which consistently ranks among the year’s deadliest days for alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 10,497 people died in drunk driving crashes in 2016, which is an average of one alcoholimpaired-driving fatality every 50 minutes,” says Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “With people celebrating the New Year and then getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking, January 1 is a particularly dangerous day on the roads. Even one death is far too many to be lost from a completely preventable crime.”

Sobering Drunk Driving Facts

• In 2016, there were 10,497 fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes involving drivers with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher, an increase of 1.7 percent over last year. This totaled 28 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year. (NHTSA)

• Of the traffic fatalities among children 14 and younger in 2016, 1,233 occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. (NHTSA)

• Pennsylvania is one of 10 states that accounted for 54 percent of all alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in 2016.

• Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) report that in 2016, 11 percent of all holiday crashes involved alcohol.

• PSP reports nearly 20,000 DUI arrests in 2016.

• On New Year’s Day 2016, there were 117 alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania. deaths, AAA Mid-Atlantic is offering important safety advice to New Year’s Eve partygoers:

• Always plan ahead to designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins.

• Never get behind the wheel of a car when you’ve been drinking alcohol — even after just one drink.

• Never ride as a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol — even after just one drink.

• Do not hesitate to take the keys from friends or family members who may be impaired.

• Use mass transit or call a taxi. Put numbers for local cab/ridesharing companies in your phone before heading out for the evening.

• Be a responsible host in reminding guests to stay safe and always offer alcohol-free beverages.

• If you encounter an impaired driver on the road, keep a safe distance and ask a passenger to call 911 (or pull over to a safe location to make the call yourself).

• Remember: prescription, over-the-counter medications and illegal drugs also can impair your ability to drive safely.

Visit PreventDUI.AAA. com for impaired driving facts, transportation alternatives and expert advice. AAA encourages visitors to Take the Pledge to drive drug and alcohol-free.