New Year’s Eve is known for loud parties, loud music, and watching the ball drop. Ringing in the new year is a timeless tradition but comes with new dangers each year.

Due to the average annual drunk driving fatalities rising, local agencies like Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office have vowed to crack down on potential drivers operating vehicles while under the influence. “As part of the “Booze It and Lose It”, which is the largest law enforcement campaign that is hosted annually, more officers will be on the roads and highways […] through the New Year,” as stated by the BCSO Facebook post. For more information, click here: https://www.facebook.com/brazoriacountysheriffsoffice/posts/280387664121034

Brazoria County Emergency Services District No. 3 is urging New Year’s Eve revelers to be safe and “have a plan,” to get home safely without drinking and driving after celebrating the new year.

“You can be doing everything right and still be hit by a drunk driver," said John McNamee with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “It can injure you. It can kill you, and create lots of havoc and lots of carnage, and drunk driving is a choice. Someone made a choice to do that.”

Don’t drink and drive 

If you plan on drinking to celebrate the holidays, make sure you plan your ride or accommodations such as a ride share. Drunk driving is illegal and entirely preventable with the right planning.

Buckle up 

When traveling, make sure you and your family members buckle up. Roughly half of Texas roadway fatalities last year involved a victim who was not wearing a safety belt.

Get plenty of rest 

If you’re commuting a long way for a holiday get-together, make sure you’re well rested or that you can switch with another driver when you start feeling fatigued. Recent studies have shown that driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving drunk.

Obey the rules of the road

Whether you’re in your hometown or in a new city or state, always obey the rules of the road and river safely according to the present conditions.

Technology

There is a new application (launched in 2020) for iOS and Android that allows you to track your drinking and measure potential BAC on your phone without additional hardware. More information in the following link: https://prn.to/37mqfYD and the application can be downloaded from the following link: http://My-Limit.com

Reminder: There’s no excuse to drink and drive tonight!