Fourth of July weekend is quickly approaching, and for most of us that means barbecues, special events, and fireworks. Unfortunately, authorities also report that drunk driving accidents in Homestead and other South Florida cities can spike around this weekend. If you’ll be driving to Fourth of July events or will be hosting your own event, make sure that you use extra caution on the roads.
Before heading out this weekend, you might also want to have a plan for getting home safely. This can include:
- Setting aside extra money for a cab or for a hotel room. Have extra cash or a credit card on hand to pay for taxis or a hotel room if you plan on drinking. Even if you have a designated driver, have an alternative to get home safely if your designated driver decides to drink after all.
- Putting information about local hotels and taxi companies in your phone. Make it easy to call a taxi or to book a hotel room if you have been drinking.
- Designating a driver. Go out with friends and have one or two people act as a designated driver for the evening so that you have a safe way of getting home.
- Leaving your car home. To reduce the temptation of driving home after you have been drinking, hand over your keys to someone you trust or leave your car at home entirely. Leaving your car behind can be an especially good idea since drunk drivers may be on the roads and even if you are driving sober you can still be affected by someone else’s bad decisions.
- Taking advantage of local alternatives. Many communities have free public transportation or other alternatives to help Fourth of July revelers get home safely. You can always get home safely by using the BeMyDD service or by using mass transit in Miami-Dade County. DrinkingandDriving.org lists designated driver services across the state and across the country if you ever need a safe ride home. Plan to use these services and make sure everyone in your family knows about them, too.
- Making sure your children are safe. Even if your children are under the legal alcohol drinking age, keep in mind that underage drinking is far more common than most parents realize. Make sure that your teens know that they can count on you for safe ride home with no questions asked and no punishment given.
- Going to family-focused events that don’t serve alcohol. Another alternative to going out on the Fourth of July is to host your own event or to attend alcohol-free family-friendly events. You can avoid alcohol and the risk of drunk driving entirely.
There are many reasons why you should call Flaxman Law Group if you have been injured in a roadway accident. Our legal team has more than 60 years of combined experience and we have a track record of recovering more than $100 million on behalf of South Florida plaintiffs. With three offices in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami, we serve the entire region and we work hard on behalf of clients to help them build strong cases.