The Lake County Safe Communities Coalition (LCSCC) reports there were seventeen fatal deaths due to crashes in 2020 in Lake County, five of which occurred in the 4th quarter (October-December). The causes of the crashes were:
- Drove off road (2)
- Improper crossing
- Improper turn
Of the crashes reported, seven are suspected to be alcohol and/or drug related. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to be safe whenever they are behind the wheel, and that all motorists can play a role in keeping the roadways safe by never driving while impaired and designating a sober driver.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) 10,511 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2018. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2014 to 2018 — one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 50 minutes in 2018. This is why Lake County Safe Communities Coalition is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to the holiday festivities and office parties, help us spread the word: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
The LCSCC and NHTSA recommend the following safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you have had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.
- Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app available on Google Play for Android devices: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide&hl=en) and Apple’s iTunes Store for IOS devices: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8). SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local police department.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information about the Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving campaign, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
