William Mattar’s Safe Ride Home 4 the Holidays

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

December is a time of year filled with holiday celebrations, most often including alcohol or other impairing substances.  Sadly, the days between Christmas Eve to  New Year’s Day, has become one of the deadliest and most dangerous times on America’s roadways due to an increase in impaired driving.

To help people celebrate smart on New Year’s Eve, William Mattar, P.C. will be giving away Uber Ride Discount Vouchers to the first eligible 1,000 people who register.

Registration has concluded.

Drunk Driving That’s Not OK

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, a time to educate drivers about the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Law enforcement agencies also increase patrols and checkpoints in order to prevent drunk driving. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation:

• In 2020, over 11,654 people lost their lives due to alcohol-related driving traffic incidents in the  U.S.
• Even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2020, there were 2,041 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL. Learn more about the effects and levels of BAC.
• Nationally, over the past 5 years, an average of 300 people died each year in drunk driving crashes the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Alcohol impaired fatalities make up more than a quarter of all crash fatalities.

At William Mattar law offices we want everyone to be safe when celebrating the holidays with friends and family.  Please do not drink and drive. If your holiday plans involve consuming alcohol make a plan to get home safely.  Choose a designated driver, call a sober friend, t call a taxi, or a ride share service to get you to your final destination,

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), between 2003 and 2012, 3,752 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New York State. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious crime with fines and penalties associated with each conviction. Judgment, coordination and ability to drive a vehicle changes after you consume any amount of alcohol.

According to the DMV, penalties for alcohol and drug-related violations can be very serious. Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (.18 BAC or higher) can result in a jail term of one year, second and third offenses potentially resulting in sentences of four and seven years, respectively. Of course, penalties include mandatory fines and license revocation.

A suspended license can be reissued after the suspension period is over, but not before driving classes (taken at your expense), monetary fees, and retaking your driver’s test.

A DWI conviction may always haunt you. When you get your driver’s license back, it may be difficult to get automobile insurance at a reasonable cost. If you plan on applying for a job that involves driving, you may not get a job offer.

The penalties in New York State for repeat DWI offenders get increasingly stricter. The bottom line: driving while under the influence of alcohol, no matter how little you think you may have consumed, is just not worth it.

If you or a loved one was struck by a drunk driver, call the personal injury lawyers at William Mattar today at (844) 444-4444. Our drunk driving accident lawyers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist you in any way possible.

Stay safe and plan ahead:

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, The level of alcohol impairment depends on five conditions:

• The amount of alcohol you drink
• The amount of food you eat before or while you drink alcohol
• The length of time you drink alcohol
• Your body weight
• Your gender

There is no quick method to become sober. The best method is to wait until your body absorbs the alcohol. The average rate that your body processes alcohol is approximately one drink per hour.

If you plan on drinking, don’t drive. If you do drink, consider asking a sober friend to drive you to you to your final destination, call a taxi, a ride share service.

DWI and Buffalo Road Conditions

The combination of drunk driving and winter weather can be extremely dangerous. Impaired drivers may lose their ability to assess road conditions and handle problems that arise due to icy roads and poor visibility.

The U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports that most drunk driving accidents occur after 9:00 pm and peak between midnight and 4:00 am. Drivers under the influence of alcohol will drive too slow, too fast, swerve back and forth or even drive the wrong way. Head-on collisions due to drunk drivers going the wrong way are among the worst type of accident, often resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. In addition, drunk drivers can cause multiple car pile-ups if they are driving recklessly on highways or interstates and attempt to change lanes without looking behind them.

We strongly believe in staying safe when deciding to go out and celebrate the holidays. That’s why the William Mattar Safe Ride Home 4 the Holidays program is designed with one goal in mind – to prevent impaired driving.

Drunk driving is against the law, and William Mattar law offices encourages you to drink responsibly and be safe and responsible drivers.