December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

By Presidential Proclamation, December has been designated as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, according to the White House Office of the Press Secretary. December is, in fact, the perfect month to focus efforts on the issue of drunk driving and general impaired driving as holiday festivities have a very large concentration of people both celebrating and driving on Massachusetts roads.

Alcohol and drugs present risks to drivers all year-round, but can be especially dangerous around the holidays. Remember, that being impaired while driving does not just involve alcohol and illegal substances, but prescription medications and even distracted driving. Any action or behavior that impairs your ability to drive safely is a hazard. Being aware of the risks of impaired driving and taking the (easy) steps to prevent it can make a significant difference in keeping everyone safe on the road.

 What You Can Do to Ensure an Enjoyable and Safe Holiday Season

At the Kiley Law Group, our car accident attorneys have seen too many crashes involving impaired drivers, all of which could have been easily prevented by using one’s better judgment. The following are some important reminders to help you and your loved ones stay safe and keep others safe as well:

• If you plan to drink, don’t drive, period.
• Remember that “buzzed driving” is drunk driving, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) puts it.
• Do not take any medications that can impair your driving abilities.
• If you are having a holiday party, don’t let people at your party drive if they have been drinking. Take their keys and arrange for a ride home.
• Stay off the road as much as possible, especially as the end of the month draws closer.
• Report suspected drunk drivers if you come across them while on the road.

The holidays are a time to spend time with the people you care about, and you owe it to them and to yourself to make sure you take the necessary steps to stay safe and keep others safe as well.

Massachusetts Could Do More to Stop Drunk Driving

The Boston Globe reports that The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a news conference yesterday to highlight how Massachusetts and other states can combat drunken driving more effectively.

The NTSB reports that the Massachusetts and 7 other states can do more in preventing these types of accidents where tragedy all too often plays a leading part.

The federal agency has previously called for 11 recommendations for each of the 50 states to adopt that are meant to put a stop to “hardcore” drunk drivers. Hardcore drunk drivers are defined as individuals who have previously been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or who register a blood alcohol content (BAC) of a 0.15 or greater.

Some of the recommendations include the following:

• Convicted DWI offenders must maintain a zero BAC while behind the wheel
• Limiting plea bargains for a DWI offender and pleading guilty to a lesser offense
• Refusing to erase a DWI offender’s record
• Refusing to allow a DWI offender to avoid having their license suspended

Out of the 50 states, 36 states have adopted 5 or more of the NTSB recommendations, while 6 states have adopted at least 8. Massachusetts and 7 other states have only adopted 4 of the recommendations or fewer.

The NTSB reports that in 2009 a total of 10,839 individuals were killed in drunk driving accidents. Roughly 7,600 people of those 10,839 were killed by hardcore drunk drivers.

When to Contact a Boston Accidents Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in a car accident in Massachusetts due to a drunk driver, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact the Boston injury attorneys with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.

Call 800-410-2769 to receive your free legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.