Heading into Labor Day weekend, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), national law enforcement and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are reminding drivers to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. The nationwide campaign is an effort to crack down on drunk driving, which is the most common and most deadly preventable crime across the country. Law enforcement will enforce zero tolerance for drivers caught with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above the legal limit of .08. Unfortunately, despite years of campaigns raising awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, too many drivers continue to get behind the wheel after drinking, putting their lives and the lives of other at risk. Drunk driving-related deaths still accounted for 31 percent of traffic fatalities across the country in 2013. Of the those who died, 68 percent were involved in an accident where a driver had a BAC nearly twice the legal limit or higher. Labor Day weekend is an increased time for drunk driving because more drivers are hitting the road. The low gas prices drivers can expect this year will only further amplify that. AAA expects 35 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home, most of whom will be traveling by car. Last year, there were 12 fatalities, including seven that were caused by a drunk driver, on Ohio roads over the Labor Day weekend. There were a total of 176 alcohol-related accidents that caused 107 injuries across the state. The NHTSA says the best way to protect yourself against a drunk driver is to wear your seatbelt. Motorists should also plan ahead if they will be drinking. Have a designated driver, take a cab or find an alternative way home. The attorneys at O'Connor, Acciani & Levy have seen first-hand the devastation that a drunk driving accident can bring. If you are injured in an auto accident this holiday weekend, a personal injury lawyer from our firm may be able to help you get the compensation you need to put your life back together.
Labor Day Weekend Drunk Driving Warnings
