Independence Day - Safety
Independence Day
Driving Safety this Holiday
Independence Day is one of the deadliest holidays for drunk driving crashes. During the 2013 Fourth of July Weekend Holiday, 199 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver. Driving while legally drunk, with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, is against the law in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Tips to ensure safe travels:
- Never get behind the wheel drunk. Plan a safe ride home or designate a sober driver before you start drinking.
- If you drink too much, call a taxi, sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a free SaferRide app that allows users to call a taxi or a friend by identifying their location so they can be picked up. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play, and Apple devices on the iTunes store.
- Be alert, never drive distracted and don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement if you see a drunk driver on the road.
- Buckle up. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact law enforcement; you can save lives!
- If you see people about to drive drunk, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
- Your best defense against a drunk driver is a seat belt. Always buckle up.
It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher in all 50 States and the District of Columbia. Remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.
For more information on drunk driving prevention, please visit these sites:
Local Independence Day Activities
There are many local Independence Day activities can be found here:
https://www.seemonterey.com/events/holiday-events/4th-of-july/
Use of Fireworks: A special reminder as we celebrate Independence Day. In accordance with 13-4 of the Monterey City Code, the sale, offering for sale, display, possession, or discharge of any fireworks-even those advertised as safe and sane- is prohibited within the Monterey City limits and subject to a $1,000 fine.