Celebrated on the first Monday in September, Labor Day honors the contributions of everyday workers to the growth and achievements of the United States. Known for its long holiday weekend marking the end of summer, Labor Day is commonly associated with barbecues and cold drinks. Sadly, this holiday is not a day of celebration for everyone. Labor Day is also known as the fourth deadliest holiday for drunk driving, with approximately half of all fatal traffic accidents attributed to drunk drivers.
Last year in Arizona, 625 drivers were arrested for drunk driving during Labor Day weekend, with 106 drivers having a blood alcohol content of 0.15, almost double the legal limit. Alcohol wasn’t the only thing impairing drivers that weekend, 130 drivers were arrested on drug-related DUIs. In addition to fines and jail time, the consequences of a drunk driving incident can stay with you long afterward.
As you get ready for your Labor Day festivities, make sure that you drink responsibly and plan for a safe ride home. Use the following tips to plan a fun and safe holiday.
- Drink lots of water! While many cold drinks might be refreshing, most won’t provide relief from the heat and will further dehydrate you. Make sure to drink lots of water the day before and during your weekend festivities.
- Coordinate a designated driver. A designated driver is not one who is the least drunk but one who has not consumed any amount of alcohol.
- Stay with a friend. If you’ve had too much to drink, avoid being out, especially between 8:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. when most drunk driving collisions occur.
- Call a cab, use a drive share service, or public transportation to get home safely. Plan your weekend by downloading a drive share app or public transportation maps.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is inexcusable and completely avoidable. Take time to make sure you and your loved ones get home safely this Labor Day weekend and never drive under the influence. To learn more visit, MaricopaCountyAttorney.org/DUI
To learn more about AZ DUI Laws visit, GOHS.AZ.gov/impaired-driver-programs/arizona-dui-laws