It is New Year’s Eve and everyone is excited to partake in festivities to say good-bye to 2014 and ring in 2015. If your celebration involves drinking, we encourage you to take special precautions and plan ahead before heading to your destinations.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the death toll from drunk driving for 2013 showed a 2.5 percent decline over previous years. Even with the decrease, nationwide, we still realized greater than 10,000 alcohol-related driving fatalities equating to one death every 52 minutes. In December 2013 alone, there were 733 lives lost.
Through our blog, the Steinger, Greene, & Feiner family wants to remind our readership of some important tips to help keep you safe as you enjoy your night with family and friends.
New Year’s Eve Safety Tips
- Take a pledge not to get behind the wheel after drinking
- Designate a non-drinking driver before celebrations begin
- Never get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking
- Take the keys from a family member or friend who intends to drive under the influence
- Prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs can also impair your ability to drive
- If you encounter a potentially drunk driver on the roadways, maintain a safe distance and notify 911
- If you are hosting the celebration, have non-alcoholic beverages available and check on your guests as they leave to ensure no one gets behind the wheel drunk
Additional Arrive Alive Initiatives
- Take advantage of the NHTSA’s SaferRide app which uses pre-programming to allow you to call a friend and location services to find taxis in your area. The app is available for both Android and Apple devices.
- The American Automobile Association (AAA) offers the Safe Ride Program. Though it is not offered nationally, drivers are encouraged to check the AAA website to determine if this is an option for their locations.
- Rideshare programs LYFT and UBER are available in limited areas. Both companies anticipate high usage tonight. Check their websites for program information and pricing.
Our business puts us in a unique situation to be privy to incomprehensible tragedies including the aftermath of drunken driving accidents. Each of us has a choice in how 2014 ends and how 2015 begins. We owe it to ourselves, our families, and one another not to allow New Year’s Eve to be marked by disaster. Accidents happen, but the attorneys and staff at Steinger, Greene, & Feiner implores everyone to do everything possible to avoid being counted amongst the NHTSA’s 2014 New Year’s Eve accident statistics.
About the Author
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.