Drive sober this weekend
Roadway fatalities spike over Memorial Day. Don’t become a statistic.
Though Memorial Day’s focus should be fixed on remembering service members who gave their lives in defense of this country, the three-day weekend that begins today marks the unofficial start of the season. That means, weather permitting, people across Hampton Roads will be spending time with friends and families, attending backyard get-togethers and other events over the holiday.
Many of these gatherings will involve alcohol, so it’s important this weekend to be responsible by designating a sober driver, using mass transit or hailing a ride share rather than risking it on the road. One bad decision can change everything. Don’t let that happen this weekend.
Though the weather forecast looks grim, there will be plenty going on across the region to honor our fallen with the respect and dignity they deserve. As a center of military activity — home to thousands of active-duty and retired personnel — Hampton Roads communities take those events very seriously.
This can be a very emotional weekend for those in uniform, those who served and their families. After 20 years of war, many of these men and women know someone who’s made the ultimate sacrifice to protect this country and the nostalgia of shared laughs and heartfelt conversations can be overwhelming.
Likewise, there will be plenty of folks across the region for whom the meaning of the holiday is an afterthought. They may be more inclined to attend a block party or cookout with family and friends than a memorial event. (Those who gave their lives for this country secured their freedom to make that choice.)
In both instances — the mournful remembrance and the summer kickoff celebration — alcohol often plays a prominent role in the proceedings. It might be a beer with fellow service members in tribute to a departed colleague or a couple of afternoon cocktails with a work-free Monday looming, but booze is a common accompaniment this weekend.
Polling by the American Addiction
Centers found that Mardi Gras, New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day top the list of “booziest” holidays, but that Americans consume 3.3 drinks on average during Memorial Day. (That’s more than Thanksgiving but less than Independence Day.)
That itself isn’t a problem. Adults of legal drinking age are within their rights to knock a few back over a holiday weekend. But it can be dangerous, and even deadly, if someone who’s had too much to drink compounds the error by getting behind the wheel.
The American Automobile Association predicts that a record 42 million Americans will travel this weekend, 37.1 million of whom will make their journey by car. Those are substantial increases over recent years and AAA says holiday travel is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.
The National Safety Council, a century-old nonprofit focused on improving safety in workplaces and on roadways, estimates that 469 people will die on U.S. roadways this weekend. The NSC forecasts tend to be conservative; the actual number of holiday fatalities has generally been greater than the group’s estimates.
More people than ever on the roads, during a holiday weekend when alcohol use will be common. It would be hard to make a better argument for caution, awareness and good decisions.
Staying sober or designating a sober driver to ensure a safe ride home may require a little planning, maybe even some personal discipline, but it’s more than worth it. It may save your life or the lives of others.
Alternatively, there are more options than ever to ferry you safely to your doorstep if you’ve had one too many. Hampton Roads Transit operates buses, ferries and the Norfolk light rail. Ride-sharing apps provide individual service at (generally) an affordable price. And there are always taxis, the reliable standard, if needed.
The point is, there’s absolutely no excuse for drinking under the influence this weekend. Don’t make a mistake that cannot be undone. Use your head this Memorial Day and be safe.