Kathy Cooper of Rice County Safe Roads Coalition reports the Fourth of July holiday is one of the deadliest periods of the year on our roads and alcohol is a significant factor. Impaired driving remains the leading cause of traffic deaths, responsible for one of every three traffic fatalities over the past decade.
In the last five years (2011-2015), 44 percent of all July 4 fatal traffic crashes were drunk driving related, followed by Thanksgiving (36 percent) and Christmas (29 percent).
On average, the July 4 holiday period includes:
4 fatalities
421 DWI arrests
412 crashes
235 injuries
To keep motorists safe, troopers, officers and deputies will be looking to take drunk drivers off the road by conducting extra DWI patrols this weekend in Minnesota’s top 25 most dangerous drunk driving counties. Unfortunately, Rice County is one of those counties (#19).
“Most people are getting the message to plan ahead when going to bars or other liquor establishments” said Troy Dunn, Rice County Sheriff. “But sometimes when we are gathering with friends and family, people forget to designate a sober driver. This holiday weekend, plan ahead, and if you see an impaired driver, speak up and find them a safe ride home.” In Rice County, you can call for a safe ride home – from the bar or from a residence: 507-333- 0090 in Faribault and 607-645- 4447 in Northfield. A $6.00 ride home is a better option than a $10,000 DWI.
The Rice County Safe Roads Coalition along with the Rice County Sheriff, Dundas, Faribault, and Northfield Police wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July – let the sparks and lights be in the sky and not on the road.
