Bredesen, Highway Officials Promote Designating a Sober Drive This Fourth of July
Plan before you party, don’t drink and drive

Nashville, Tenn. – Governor Phil Bredesen along with the Tennessee Department of Transportation Governor’s Highway Safety Office announced today they are joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other highway safety and law enforcement officials across the nation to aggressively remind anyone planning on using alcohol during the Fourth of July weekend to always plan before you party and designate a sober driver.

“The Fourth of July holiday period represents one of the busiest times of the year on America’s roadways and a time where we see a significant increase in impaired drivers,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “Our goal is a safe and fun holiday for family and friends. We’re reminding anyone planning to drink alcohol to designate a sober driver before they celebrate.”

TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely remarked, “Driving impaired is simply not worth any of the pain you can cause. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be quite significant.”

According to NHTSA, the Fourth of July holiday period has the highest incidence of impaired-driving crashes and fatalities for the entire year. “Twenty-seven percent of the fatalities that occurred in Tennessee during the 2004 Fourth of July holiday were alcohol-related,” reported Chuck Taylor, Governor’s Highway Safety Office Director. “There’s no reason anyone should drive impaired. The risks are too great and it’s against the law.”

If your plans include the consumption of alcohol, Governor Bredesen and Tennessee highway safety officials offer these necessary tips for a safe holiday:

• Designate a sober driver before going out.
• If you’re drinking alcohol, don’t even think about driving when impaired – and never let your friends drive if you think they are impaired.
• Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach and drink lots of water during your activities to keep hydrated.
• When impaired, ask a sober friend for a ride home, use mass transit, call a cab or stay where you are and sleep it off until you are sober.

“And of course, always remember to wear your safety belt. It is still your single best defense against death or injury in a crash”, urged Governor Bredesen.

The 2005 Fourth of July holiday period begins 6 pm Friday, July 1 and continues until midnight Monday, July 4.