Avoid drunk driving as school starts

With the new school year around the corner, San Marcos High School grads heading off to college, and the last big holiday of the summer not too far away, there’s a good chance that you’ll be doing some traveling and celebrating in and the San Marcos area, as well as throughout the state of Texas.

With summer holiday travel and celebrations, we typically see an increase in accidents throughout the area and in the state. While every motorist is always at risk of being involved in a preventable car accident, the chances rise significantly when there’s more traffic on the roads and more motorists who decide to drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Statistics speak for themselves

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2017, there were 259 accidents in Hays County involving a drunk driver and seven of them were fatal. In Caldwell County there were 48 accidents involving a drunk driver with one fatality, and in Guadalupe County there were 119 drunk driving accidents, which resulted in three fatalities.

While the fatalities may seem minimal in comparison to other annual crash statistics throughout Texas, even a few lives lost in a tragic accident can greatly impact a community. Even if you’ve never lost a friend or loved one to a drunk driver, the next victim could be your neighbor, your babysitter, an educator, a community member, your grandparent, your spouse, your child, and even you.

Safety tips for all 

As you’re headed out on the road for one more family vacation, one more backyard barbecue, or one more summer festival, here are some tips to consider to reduce your chances of being involved in an accident involving an impaired driver:

• Always designate a sober driver
• Have a backup plan for getting home safely, such as Lyft or Uber
• Know your limit and don’t drive “buzzed”
• Avoid driving in the late evening and early morning hours of the weekend
• Brush up on your defensive driving skills
• Keep your distance from reckless drivers
• Avoid distractions and stay focused on the road
• Don’t let others drive drunk

Here are a few tips for parents of young drivers who are heading to college:

• Have an open and honest discussion about underage drinking
• Express your concerns and your expectations (even if they won’t be living with you)
• Discuss “real world” consequences of driving under the influenceAllow your soon-to-be college student to discuss his or her feelings openly
• Consider signing a pledge together to commit to sober driving
• Be a good role model

There’s no guarantee that you or your loved ones won’t be in an alcohol-related car accident, but by making the commitment to being a sober driver and following other rules of the road, you can reduce your chances of becoming another life lost in the San Marcos community.