It's a holiday known for fireworks, barbecues, and outdoor fun. But the Fourth of July is also one of the most dangerous days of the year. But it doesn't have to be.
Law enforcement is expecting a lot more people on the roads with a higher percentage of them under the influence of alcohol. So, they are increasing staffing to lower that risk.
"Designate a safe and sober driver, make sure everybody is buckled up in your vehicle, if you're towing a trailer, an RV, make sure all the lights are working, that the trailer brakes are functioning properly," Trooper Chuck Allen says.
Along with more R.V.s and trailers, it is also construction season, which means there is less room for driver error.
"Our message is to always have motorists pay attention but you really need to doubly focus on your driving when you're in those highly congested areas," Allen said. "Those construction areas and just adjust your driving habits accordingly."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says during a 25-year period, more than half of fatal crashes, on the Fourth of July, were alcohol-related.
Allen says part of the problem is, with so many activities, many people start drinking earlier in the day.
"That's where it becomes dangerous is if they don't stay put," Allen said. "They don't stay in their home or in the hotel or at the campground, when they choose to move to another location, after consuming alcoholic beverages, that's when it becomes deadly."
But alcohol safety is not limited to our roads. With people celebrating the fourth at area lakes, officials also say it's important to remember the same DUI laws apply to watercraft.
"If you're on the water, sharing the waterway, safely, and not drinking and operating the vehicle, a jet ski or a boat, that type of thing," Allen said.
Also, if you're backing up a boat or a fifth-wheel, always have a spotter to prevent pedestrian accidents.
NHP is expecting a lot of traffic, at Lake Tahoe, and they will be setting up DUI checkpoints.
With the Fourth of July falling on a Wednesday, law enforcement is expecting even more people heading in and out of town, taking a five-day weekend.
Written by Paul Nelson
