July 4 is the holiday where we celebrate the birth of our country. But it also has a long tradition as a day and holiday where friends and family gather to have fun, fire up the grill, have a few cold beverages and watch the fireworks.
The other side of this equation is the fact that it also one of the most dangerous days of the year for alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. The Department of Transportation has recently released the figures for how deadly it can be for drivers and their passengers.
The statistics
These are the official numbers from the July 4 2016 holiday of 6 p.m. July 2 to 5:59 a.m. July 6:
- There were 188 people killed in traffic-related fatalities where at least one driver was over the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. This is up from 146 fatalities in 2015, which is a 28 percent increase.
- About half of those drivers who tested over the legal limit were at .15 or above, which is almost twice the legal limit.
Don’t become a statistic yourself
We understand that people make mistakes or have lapses in judgment. The long day out in the sun having fun is usually followed by a late night with fireworks. If the driver isn’t careful, they could be over the legal BAC limit by the time they go home. Law enforcement is well-aware of the above statistics and staff accordingly in effort to keep the roads safe from drunken drivers.
If you do find yourself pulled over or involved in another kind of alcohol-related charge, it is key to avoid making matters worse. An attorney with experience handling defense in these types of cases can be a tremendous asset.
