Virginia's holiday driving under the influence data is sobering
The 2023 Thanksgiving weekend in Virginia resulted in 89 charged drivers for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. The map below from the Virginia DMV 2023 Crash Facts Report may look like our state is decorated with holiday lights; sadly it's a map indicating alcohol-related driving fatalities.
Sober and safe driving this holiday season
The facts are that Christmas through New Year's ends up being one of the worst times for drinking and driving in the commonwealth. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little planning ahead and thoughtful consideration for road safety, every Virginian can have a positive impact.
In response, Virginia’s 2024 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI enforcement and public education campaign is on a mission to keep Virginia’s roads safe from drunk drivers this holiday season. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over combines high visibility law enforcement efforts with research-based outreach to remind Virginians to plan for a safe ride home after drinking.
Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
It's best to completely refrain from drinking if you're driving. The bottom line is if you feel different, you drive different. There are blood alcohol calculators like AlcoDroid Alcohol Tracker (Android) or DrinkControl (IOS) to estimate your BAC using your height, weight, age, gender, the number of drinks you’ve had, and what type they were. Even the smallest amount of alcohol can affect get you in big trouble behind the wheel.
Have a Designated Driver or Get a Ride
There's really no excuse for drinking and driving with a huge variety of rideshare services. Here are a few free and discounted services offered during the holidays by the local area.
Greater Richmond Area
A local law office is running a Sober Ride Home program for New Year’s Eve.
People interested in getting one can go to Allen and Allen’s Instagram to find a link to a Sober Ride Home survey.
Once people complete the survey, they will be emailed a unique code on Friday afternoon. That code can be used to cover up to $25 of a ride between 11 p.m. Dec. 31 and 6 a.m. Jan. 1.
NOVA
Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP)- Rides will be available from Friday, Dec. 13 to Wednesday, Jan. 1 nightly from 10 PM to 4 AM. Each evening during this six-hour period, area residents ages 21 and older celebrating with alcohol may download the Lyft app to their phones then enter the SoberRide® code in the app’s ‘Payment’ tab (under the ‘Add Lyft Pass’ option) to receive their no-cost (up to $15) safe transportation home. WRAP’s separate 2024 Holiday SoberRide® promo codes will be posted at 9:00 p.m. on December 13, 20 and 31 on www.SoberRide.com.
Drive Safe Hampton Roads/Williamsburg/Yorktown
We wish you a safe holiday season on Virginia roads!
Sources:
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/VA-traffic-crash-2023.pdf
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