NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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28 people died on Michigan roadways since last week making a total of 476 this year. In addition, 138 more were seriously injured for a statewide total of 2,254 to date.
Compared to last year at this time there are 21 fewer fatalities and 51 fewer serious injuries.
Numbers are provided by the Michigan State Police.
Celebrate America Safely This July 4th
Know That Impaired Driving Is Deadly
Tips for Getting Home Safely Without Driving
We love to celebrate the 4th of July with family, friends, food, and fireworks. Yet all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation's roads. This American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.
In 2020, 493 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period (6 p.m. July 2 – 5:59 a.m. July 6, 2020). Forty-one percent (201) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
From 2016 to 2020, there were 1,390 drivers killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the 4th of July holiday period. Thirty-nine percent (542) of the drivers killed were alcohol-impaired (with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher), and more than half (51%) were between the ages of 21-34.
This Independence Day, local communities across the country are supporting NHTSA's national Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving awareness campaign. Did you know that even a small amount of alcohol can impair your driving? For example, even a blood alcohol concentration of .02 can affect someone’s ability to perform two tasks at one time – and that affects your ability to drive safely.
Tips to Celebrate Safely:
- If you plan to drink, make a plan ahead of time for a sober ride home.
- Even if you’ve had only one drink, let someone who hasn’t been drinking take you home. A sober driver is one who does not drink at all, not the one who’s had the least to drink.
- If you’re hosting a Fourth of July gathering, help the designated drivers out by making sure there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages.
- Have a friend who is about to drive impaired? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, safely pull over and call 911.
- Always wear your seat belt.
Drunk driving isn’t the only risky behavior causing crashes on our roads; drug-impaired driving is an issue too. Whether the drug is obtained legally or illegally, drug-impaired driving is dangerous and illegal in all states. Remember, If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.https://www.nhtsa.gov/ways-get-home-safely
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