“There are many reasons why Thanksgiving Eve has evolved into the biggest party night of the year,” said Monica Farrar, Drinking Driver Program Director at The Resource Training Center in Amherst. “Work usually lets out early on Wednesday, giving employees a longer weekend and more time to spend at happy hour. People are also traveling back into town for the holiday, allowing for more get-togethers. Many of those reunions take place in a bar or home where large amounts of alcohol are consumed. Throw in some poor planning — such as not having a designated driver — and a fun evening surrounded by those closest to you now has the potential for a disastrous outcome.”
The Resource Training Center reminds Western New Yorkers to consider the following tips that can help prevent such a tragedy from occurring:
• Plan ahead and be sure to designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Even one drink can increase the risk of a crash while driving a motor vehicle.
• Remember that buzzed driving is the same as drunk driving.
• If you’re impaired, find another way home. Call a taxi or a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Be responsible. If someone you know is drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement. Your actions may save someone’s life, while inaction could cost a life.
“The holiday season should be a time for celebration, not tragedy,” added Farrar. “Together, we can make Western New York’s roadways safer by never driving after drinking!”
For additional information, please call The Resource Training Center at 983-2258, email info@wnyresourcetraining.org or visitwww.wnyresourcetraining.org. You can also follow The Resource Training Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Resource-Training-Center/112019195650348 or Twitter (@monica_farrar).
