Travel Advisory: NHTSA Encourages Motorists to Drive Sober this Fourth of July Holiday

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
July 1, 2015

NHTSA 34-15
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Contact: Chantel Walker, 202-366-9550, Public.Affairs@dot.gov

WASHINGTON – As one of the deadliest holidays for drunk driving crashes quickly approaches, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is urging motorists to drive sober, be alert and always buckle up.

During the 2013 Fourth of July Weekend Holiday, 199 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. Driving while legally drunk, with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, is against the law in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

NHSTA recommends the following tips to ensure safe travels:

• Never get behind the wheel drunk. Plan a safe ride home or designate a sober driver before you start drinking.
• If you drink too much, call a taxi, sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely. NHTSA offers a free SaferRide app that allows users to call a taxi or a friend by identifying their location so they can be picked up. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play, and Apple devices on the iTunes store.
• Be alert, never drive distracted and don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement if you see a drunk driver on the road.
• Buckle up. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.

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