The 4th of July is a time for national celebration, full of backyard cookouts, pool parties, and fireworks. The buzz of a drink is not needed to feel the thrill of the summer holiday festivities. But if you or someone you know decides to drink and is impaired by alcohol, it is not safe to drive a vehicle. This Independence Day, the Wyandot County Safe Communities Coalition urges drivers to share the message that buzzed driving is drunk driving.
In 2021, 212 people were killed in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. That’s 212 people who started the day with party plans and ended the day with permanent, unforgettable tragedy.
The 4th of July holiday period is consistently one of the deadliest times of year on the nation’s roads. From 2017 to 2021, there were 1,460 drivers killed in drunk-driving crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. Thirty-eight percent (552) of the drivers killed during those years were alcohol-impaired (with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), and nearly half (44%) of the drivers killed aged 21-34 were drunk. Although it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2021 one person was killed every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads.
If a person has to ask themselves if they’re safe to drive, the chances are low that they actually are. When a person feels buzzed, they don’t belong behind the wheel of a vehicle. For some people, even one drink is too many to safely drive. If plans include alcohol, make sure there’s a sober driver on call to help get everyone home safely.
“We want our community to enjoy the July 4th holiday, and we want our community to celebrate responsibly,” Safe Communities Coordinator Callan Pugh said. “It is never okay to drink and drive — even after just a few drinks. Plan ahead — if you’ll be drinking this 4th of July, or any other day, arrange for a sober ride.”
This 4th of July and every day, only drive when 100% sober, because buzzed driving is drunk driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit wyandothealth.com.
