You don’t need to be a kid to enjoy Halloween. Plenty of adults also use this day as an excellent excuse to celebrate and have some fun.
However, sometimes, this fun involves consuming more alcohol than they should. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with going out and having a good time on Halloween responsibly, if you are going to be drinking, don’t get behind the wheel. The last thing you want is to become another Halloween drunk driving statistic. While a DUI defense lawyer can help if you’re arrested for this crime, it’s ideally a situation you’d like to avoid in the first place.
The following points will help you better understand why. They highlight precisely why drunk driving on Halloween in Florida (or any other day and any other place) is always a bad idea.
5 Scary Facts About Halloween Drunk Driving
Drunk Driving Accounts for Nearly Half of Halloween Night Traffic Fatalities
The idea that people are more likely to get hurt driving drunk (or because someone else was driving drunk) on Halloween isn’t just a baseless myth. One of the most alarming Halloween drunk driving statistics indicates approximately 43% of traffic fatalities that occur in the United States on Halloween night can be attributed to drunk driving.
Pedestrians are at Risk Too
Don’t make the mistake of assuming you’re safe as a pedestrian on Halloween. Unfortunately, statistics also show that approximately 26% of pedestrian fatalities occurring on Halloween are the result of drunk driving.
That’s why it’s important to share this type of information with others. Even if you make the right choice, you can’t be sure other people will be as responsible as you. They are, however, more likely to if you spread this message throughout the community. Quite simply, drunk drivers put everyone at risk.
It’s Easier to Get a DUI Than You Think
Too many people believe they “know their limits” and can easily have a few drinks and still drive home safely. What they might not realize is just how easy it is to reach a state where alcohol has a substantial effect on their ability to operate a vehicle. After all, if you have a BAC of .08% or more, you can get arrested for driving under the influence in Florida. 
Don’t let this happen. Even if you think you know your body’s reaction to alcohol well enough to stay sober, it’s simply not worth the risk. You and everyone else will be much better off if you make other travel arrangements ahead of time. If you do end up drinking more than planned, call a friend or a cab. It’s much easier than dealing with the legal fallout of a DUI arrest.
In fact, statistics indicate Florida DUI arrests have been falling in recent years. That’s likely due to the rise of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Although there’s never an excuse to drive while drunk, you certainly can’t justify taking even a small risk when getting to your destination is as easy as scheduling a ride with an app.
Cops are Out There
Law enforcement officials and agencies know that Halloween can be a particularly dangerous night due to the number of drunk drivers on the road. Because of this, Florida police departments often participate in such efforts as Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. This involves police increasing their presence on the roadways in an attempt to identify drunk drivers before they can cause any harm.
Halloween drunk driving is a significant problem. Law enforcement treats it as such. If you get behind the wheel in an intoxicated state (even if you feel you’re only mildly intoxicated), there’s a very good chance police will catch you. Don’t take the risk.
Young Men are Particularly at Risk
It’s important to remember that absolutely anyone can be a victim of a drunk driving accident on Halloween. You don’t even need to be in a car to suffer harm at the hands of someone who made an irresponsible decision. Don’t think you’re safe just because you don’t belong to a particular group.
That said, it is worth noting that young men are particularly at risk on Halloween night. For instance, in 2011, approximately half of all drivers killed in Halloween drunk driving accidents were men between the ages of 21 and 34.
There are many reasons this could be the case. Perhaps social pressures make men feel they need to consume more alcohol than others to impress their peers. They might also feel they are expected to remain capable of driving themselves and others to various destinations throughout the night.
It’s crucial that you are aware of such pressures. If you’re a young man celebrating Halloween with a group of friends, pay attention to any signs that a member of your group isn’t making responsible decisions. You want everyone to know that no one should be expected to drink more than they’re comfortable with. You should also confirm all members of your group have made other travel arrangements if they do plan on drinking.
Doing your part to prevent drunk driving accidents doesn’t simply involve making smart choices. When you have the opportunity, it involves making sure your friends are making smart choices as well. They’ll be grateful you didn’t let them make a mistake, even if they’re irritated when you first demand they turn over the keys.
Get a DUI Lawyer in Clearwater, FL
Again, you’ll hopefully never be arrested for a DUI. That doesn’t mean it will never happen. Even if you made smart choices, you might still be arrested for a number of reasons. Perhaps faulty equipment registered an inaccurate BAC. Maybe you were driving sober but got pulled over for what appeared to be drunk driving and mistakenly assumed you would protect yourself by not agreeing to a field sobriety test. Or, maybe, you genuinely made a mistake that you fully intend never to make again.
Either way, if this happens, you need a DUI attorney in Clearwater, FL, who can provide you with adequate representation. Many details affect the outcomes of these cases. It’s important to hire a DUI lawyer who pays attention to all those details. At the firm of Dean G. Tsourakis, that’s exactly what you’ll find. Contact us online today to learn more information.
on Oct 14, 2019