(NMB) With the new year Holiday approaching, the Montana Highway Patrol is reminding people about the importance of not getting behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been celebrating. New Media Broadcasters spoke with Montana Highway Patrol Colonel Steve Lavin and he has some common sense advice if you’ll be attending a New Year’s Eve Party to keep yourself and others safe on the road.
“Always plan on getting a designated driver, arrange for a ride share if you have that in your community and even plan on spending the night. If you’re having a party and having fun, that’s great, just don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.”-Colonel Lavin
According to Colonel Lavin almost half of Montana fatalities on the roadway involve impaired driving, but there are some other major factors as well.
“Some of the other main causes are failure to wear seat belts, that’s always a huge factor. So many deaths could be prevented if a person just belted their seat belt and keep themselves from being thrown from the vehicle, we see that as a very high percentage of fatalities as well. The other major factor is speed. With elevated speeds, there are more serious crashes and more chance of having a fatality. So, those three factors, impaired driving, excessive speed and fail to wear seat belts seem to be the three major factors in fatalities on Montana highways.”- Colonel Lavin
Have a fun and safe new year holiday but remember if you’ve been drinking don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle, buckle that seat belt and slow down.
