Safe Driving Tips for New Year’s Eve!

It’s almost hard to believe it’s time for a new year already! There will be New Year’s Eve celebrations all over the lake this weekend. At Deputy and Mizell, we want everyone to enjoy themselves and get home safely. So, we wanted to share three tips for staying safe on the roads this weekend. If you have plans for getting out and celebrating the new year and want to keep yourself and your loved ones safe as possible keep reading this blog! 1) Watch out for other drivers Not only will there be more people out on the roads all at once after the midnight countdown, it is quite likely that a higher percentage of them may have been drinking before they drive home. It is a good idea to drive defensively all the time, but especially on New Year’s Eve. That means being alert and paying attention, keeping a safe 3-4 second stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, and giving an extra distance between you and another driver who seems to be driving erratically. Finally, don’t forget to avoid distractions, and watch your speed! 2) Don’t drink and drive Celebrating New Year’s Eve should include some pre-planning if you plan to drink. Arranging a designated driver or having a ride that has not been drinking is essential to celebrating the night right. You don’t want to become another drunk driving statistic as a result of ringing in the new year. As personal injury attorneys at Lake of the Ozarks, we know that being in a serious car accident can be life-altering, or deadly. We also know the legal consequences of a drinking and driving charge at Lake of the Ozarks can be very severe. At Deputy and Mizell, we believe that prevention is the best plan. It really is about mindset. When you make plans to go out for New Year’s Eve, make a plan to get home without drinking and driving too! We can tell you from experience when someone has to hire a DUI attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks, they usually look back and deeply regret not taking that important step to prevent a tragedy.

3) Host responsibly If you are hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, there are several things you can do to look out for your friends and loved ones. First, make sure there will be plenty of food, so people are not drinking on an empty stomach. You can also offer a variety of non-alcoholic beverages and encourage people to drink plenty of water between alcoholic drinks. It’s a great idea to stop serving alcohol a couple of hours before the party’s over. You can even be the host with the most by having backup drivers for getting people home, or a place for people to stay, even if it’s just a pallet on the floor. After all, safety first! At Deputy and Mizzell, we want to wish you a Happy New Year. We hope you enjoy the holiday safely and that these tips are helpful to you as you go out and celebrate this weekend. We just want you to know, if you find yourself involved in a drinking and driving accident, we are here for you. Our numbers are listed below, and your initial consultation is free. If you would like to hear more tips and helpful information from our mid-Missouri law office, just follow us on social media using the links listed below!