Catch a cab or designate a driver if you plan to toast the season with friends.
It’s that time of year again – caroling in the snow, sharing gifts with friends, and trimming the tree with all that glitters. Oh, and spending the night in jail after getting arrested for drunk driving. Wait, that wasn’t part of your holiday plans? Then here is some information that you need to know in order to keep yourself and your family safe this holiday season, and make it through to the New Year without involving law enforcement.
According to AAA, almost 3.5 million people in Michigan will hit the roads over the holiday break That’s a significant increase on the number of people travelling during the same time period last year. In total, 80,000 more individuals will be leaving home and heading out, which AAA says is the highest number since they started keeping track in 2001.
Of those three and a half million Michiganians (or Michiganders, if you prefer…) travelling towards their holiday destinations, three million of them are expected to be behind the wheel. While poor weather conditions and icy Michigan roads certainly play a role in the number of collisions that happen during the winter holidays, the truth is that drunk driving is a major contributor as well.
Operation Blue Light, which is in its sixth year now, is a multi-agency attempt to cut back on behaviors that lead to crashes. These include distracted driving, aggressive driving, and drunk or drugged driving. The stepped up patrols actually began in late November just before the Thanksgiving holiday. As we head into the holiday season, people attend more get-togethers and parties. There is an increased risk of crashes involving alcohol and controlled substances.
Expect to see more officers on the roads during the holiday season!
According to the Michigan State Police website, MSP joined forces with state police and highway patrol agencies across the U.S. “in an effort to make travel safer by participating in the annual Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) Lifesaver Weekend.” However, while the C.A.R.E. weekend ended at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2016, the increased police patrols haven’t stopped. Operation Blue Light doesn’t end until New Year’s day.
We encourage all of our readers to enjoy your holidays and we would also like to remind you to stay safe. Put your phones in your glove box while you’re driving if you think it will help with the distraction factor. Slow down. Pay attention to the weather conditions and the other drivers around you. And specifically, if you have been drinking, we encourage you to call a cab or get a designated driver. Let’s be clear. We recommend against driving if you’ve consumed any amount of alcohol during the past few hours. Better safe than sorry, right?
If, however, you’ve made a mistake and need help dealing with the consequences, we’re here to help. The experienced drunk driving attorneys at the Kronzek Firm have spent decades in Michigan skillfully representing clients from all walks of life, and ensuring that every case we handle achieves the best outcome. Call us today at 866-766-5245. We are here to help.
