Avoiding a DUI Over the Fourth of July Holiday Season

The Fourth of July is the second-most-deadly holiday period of the year, just behind New Year's, due to impaired driving.

All drivers should take the necessary steps to avoid being charged with DUI.  DUI arrests are costly and can have lifetime consequences.  More importantly, you could hurt another person or yourself.

To avoid this holiday going from festive to fatal, be sure to follow these tips:

Designate a sober driver or make arrangements for a car service. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws defining driving impaired as a crime with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a specified level, currently 0.08 percent (0.08 g alcohol per 100 ml blood). According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one 12-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. Drinking alcohol slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination, all skills needed to drive a car safely.

Make sure your friends check themselves before they “wreck” themselves. If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take the keys and help your friend make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Before leaving, ensure that your vehicle is in good working order. Get a tune up, check your tire tread and pressure, oil and fluid levels, working lights and windshield wipers, etc. Ensure the fireworks are only in the sky and not in your engine!

Buckle up! The CDC reports that seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50%. Also, don't forget to secure children in properly fitted car seats.

Don't forget your furry friends! Dogs and cats should be secured in crates or other accommodations to protect them in the event of a sudden stop. A loose pet can crash through a windshield as easily as a person who is not wearing a seatbelt can.

Protect your fellow drivers too! Promptly report drunk drivers that you see on the roadways to law enforcement.

Observe speed limits. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination, and pay attention to speed limit changes.

Put the distractions away. Program your GPS before you start driving, don't text and drive, and apply makeup at your destination.  One or two seconds of distractions can negatively impact your life and the lives of others.

Drive cautiously on rural roads. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), more accidents occur on rural roads than other venues.

Stay alert. If you are feeling drowsy, take a break.

Fourth of July is the time to celebrate our freedom from oppression. It's a time to think about how others have fought for our freedom and sacrificed for us all.  It's also a time to remember that with freedom there is responsibility.  Be aware of the law and your rights this holiday.  Don't drink and drive.  Drive within the speed limits.  Stay alert and awake.  Get plenty of rest before driving and stop often to take a break.

If you have been charged with DUI in Georgia or have received a traffic ticket, hire the Atlanta DUI Attorneys and Atlanta Traffic Ticket Lawyers at our office.  We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help.  Act Now.  You case will not defend itself.