MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — The Manchester-by-the Sea Police Department wishes to remind residents of the dangers of driving while under the influence, and to encourage safe driving habits during the holiday season.
December is recognized as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month each year in an effort to reduce crashes and tragedies that occur as a direct result of impaired driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,142 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2019, accounting for nearly one-third of traffic crash fatalities. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2015 to 2019 — one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes in 2019.
The month of December typically sees a drastic increase in the number of impaired driving fatalities. During December 2019, 837 people were killed in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. During the Christmas 2019 and New Year’s Day 2020 holiday periods, there were more drunk-driving-related fatalities (210) than during any other holiday period that year.
Additionally, the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) states that in 2018 a total of 12.6 million people drove under the influence of illicit drugs. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 44% of drivers in fatal vehicle crashes tested positive for drugs.
The Manchester-by-the Sea Police Department reminds residents that these fatalities are preventable, and drivers must remember that driving while impaired by any substance — alcohol or other drugs — is dangerous, deadly and illegal behavior.
Residents should keep the following safety tips from the NHTSA in mind to prevent crashes and tragedies as a result of impaired driving:
- Never drive if you have been drinking or are under the influence of drugs.
- Never get into a vehicle with a driver who is drunk or high. Designate a sober driver beforehand or plan to use public transportation or a ride share service to get home safely.
- Watch out for your family and friends, and if one of them is impaired and planning to drive, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get home safely.
- Be a defensive driver. Remain vigilant while driving and watch out for other drivers who may be under the influence. If you see a driver who may be impaired, find a place to safely pull over and call 911.
- Nighttime is a particularly dangerous time to be on the roads. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2019 was 3.3 times higher at night than during the day, and drivers should be extra aware of other drivers who may be under the influence in the evening and nighttime hours.
The Manchester-by-the Sea Police Department would also like to share the following additional safety tips from the NHTSA:
- Travel at a safe speed. Speed affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit. For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.
- Don’t drive distracted. Pay attention to the road. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Teens are the largest age group reported as distracted at the time of fatal crashes.
- Wear a seat belt and wear it properly. The simple act of buckling your seat belt increases your chance of surviving a crash. In 2017 alone, seat belts saved 14,955 lives. But if everyone had worn seat belts on every trip that year, 2,549 more lives could have been saved.
- Make sure children are buckled in the right seats for their ages and sizes. Since 1975, 11,606 children ages 4 and under have been saved by child restraints. There were 325 children saved in 2017 alone.
“The unnecessary loss of life that results from impaired and dangerous driving is especially tragic during the holiday season, so the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department urges everyone to drive safely,” said Chief Fitzgerald. “Please buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention, and find a designated driver if your holiday festivities include intoxication. All of our families will be merrier and safer for it.”