Community Corner

The Real Cost of a Holiday DUI

AAA looks into the real costs of driving drunk this holiday season.

As Americans pop the cork on New Year’s Eve celebrations this weekend, AAA cautions partygoers against getting behind the wheel after the champagne toast.  According to a recent analysis conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, during the last decade, the years’ highest number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurs on New Year’s Day.

“Our members – who represent one in every four households—citing impaired driving as their greatest safety concern.  Yet, Americans continue to drink and drive. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one third of motor vehicle deaths,” said Jenny M. Robinson, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

There were 444 alcohol-related highway fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2010, about 34 percent of 1,324 total highway deaths in the state that year. In southeast Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties), 66 of the region’s 226 total highway deaths in 2010 (31 percent) were alcohol-related.

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To keep roadways safe this New Year's Eve, AAA Mid-Atlantic encourages motorists to avoid the “Three Deadly D’s of Driving”:

  1. Distracted Driving. It is the driver’s responsibility to keep their eyes, mind and body fully focused on the task of driving. Assign a passenger to be the designated texter, talker and navigator. If traveling alone, pull over to a safe location to use your cell phone or adjust your navigation device. Child and pet passengers can also be distractions to drivers, so allow another adult passenger to interact with these family members. 
  2. Drunken or Drugged Driving. Remember that impairment begins with the first sip of alcohol. A designated driver should be alcohol-free — not the person in your party who has consumed the least. In addition, many medications have side effects that cause impairment, so read medication labels thoroughly.  Also, you can plan to stay overnight where you are, or call a taxi for a safe ride home.
  3. Drowsy Driving. Driving drowsy is similar to driving impaired — awareness decreases, reaction time slows, judgment is impaired, and your risk of crashing skyrockets. Avoid this deadly situation by getting seven to nine hours of sleep before driving. Take a break every 100 miles or two hours, and do not drive during hours when you routinely sleep. If you feel tired while driving, pull over to a safe location and take a 20- to 30-minute nap.

 AAA reminds motorists of the true costs of impaired driving:

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  • It can cost you your life. In 2009, 10,839 people lost their lives in alcohol-related    traffic crashes.  That’s about one death every 48 minutes.
  • It can cost another’s life.  Alcohol-related traffic crashes don’t only affect the impaired driver.  One third of alcohol-involved traffic fatalities are passengers, occupants in other vehicles or pedestrians. 
  • It can cost you your freedom and your money.  A first-time DUI conviction can result in a six-to 12-month jail sentence, more for repeat offenders and for impaired drivers who injure or kill someone in a crash. Monitoring bracelets, ignition interlock equipment, license revocation and probation also place restrictions on your life. Legal fees, bail and other related expenses can amount to more than $10,000. 

AAA works year round to educate motorists about driving practices that will help keep them safe and reduce traffic-related crashes and the injuries that can result.  PreventDUI.AAA.com is an online resource offering impaired driving facts, transportation alternatives and expert advice.  Once there, AAA encourages visitors to Take the Pledge to drive drug and alcohol-free.

Along with driving sober, it’s a good idea to be prepared for emergencies on the road.  AAA Mid-Atlantic expects to aid approximately 63,000 stranded motorists throughout its territory (NJ, DE, PA, MD, DC, VA) during the year-end holiday period.  The nation’s largest motor club is busy with battery replacements and jump starts, changing tires, extricating vehicles from snow, towing vehicles for repair and more.

AAA encourages travelers to perform five basic car care tasks to avoid unnecessary breakdowns.

1.      Tires – Check tire pressures and tread depth on all the tires – including the spare – with a quality gauge when the tires are cold.

2.      Wiper Blades – Wiper blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe. Replace them if they leave streaks or miss spots. Also, make sure the windshield washer reservoir is filled with a cleaning solution that will not freeze in cold weather.

3.      Battery – Ensure the battery cable connections are tight, and the terminals are free from corrosion. If the battery is more than three years old, it’s a good idea to have it tested. AAA members can request a visit from an AAA Mobile Battery Service technician who will test their battery and can replace it on-site, if necessary.

4.      Emergency Road Kit – It’s always a good idea to carry an emergency kit when traveling—and especially so when one might encounter winter weather. The winter emergency kit should include: Ice scraper and snow brush; sand or cat litter; small shovel; jumper cables; flashlight; warm clothes and blankets; drinking water; warning flares; and a first aid kit.

5.      Vehicle Inspection –Have your vehicle inspected by a qualified technician who can identify potential problems before they put a damper on holiday travel.

AAA Mid-Atlantic estimates over 1 million travelers from the Philadelphia area will travel 50 miles or more away from home during the year-end holidays, an increase of 1.2 percent over last year.  The 2011 year-end holiday travel period is defined as Friday, December 23, 2011 to Monday, January 2, 2012. 


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