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Here’s some data that ought to sober you up:
From Dec. 23, 2016, to Jan. 2, 2017, there were 193 drug- and/or alcohol-related crashes on Florida roadways, resulting in 36 fatalities, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Crashes in which alcohol was confirmed have decreased since 2014, but those involving drugs are up—50 percent up—from 2014.
So before you toast the new year, and especially if you’re wont to toast over and over and over, a few reminders:
- Coffee does not sober you up. Only time sobers, and it takes about one hour for the body to process each drink.
- Hard alcohol is not more intoxicating than beer or wine. A 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a 12-ounce wine cooler contain the same amount of alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor.
- One drink—yes, just one—is enough to impair a person’s driving ability.
- Possession of an open container in a vehicle—moving or not, in the passenger’s hand or the driver’s—is against Florida law.
If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement or dial *FHP (*347) on your mobile phone. If you are involved in or witness a crash or other emergency, dial 911.
Tow-to-Go
AAA and Budweiser have partnered to provide free rides to those who have had too much to drink. Adults in need of a ride can call 1-855-2-TOW-2-GO. AAA will dispatch a tow truck and will take both the driver and the vehicle home, free of charge. This service is available throughout Florida, to both AAA members and non-members. Click here for more information.
Register your Emergency Contact Information HERE
Ask yourself: If you were in a crash or other emergency situation, couldn’t talk and your cellphone was locked, how would your family and friends be notified?
If you register your emergency contact information (ECI) into the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles system, law enforcement can contact your loved ones for you, and quickly, even across state lines.
ECI is a secure system that only law enforcement nationwide can access in order to contact your designated family or friends in response to an emergency situation.
Who will have access to my info?
Only Law Enforcement has access to your Emergency Contact Information.
Will my information be used for any other purpose?
No. This information is only used to notify the contacts that you designate in the event of an emergency.
Why was this system developed?
The system was first developed in Florida because there was no emergency contact program in place to quickly notify loved ones in the event of an emergency. ECI was initiated by Christine Olson in loving memory of her daughter Tiffiany because she was involved in a fatal crash and it was over 6 hours before Christine was notified. Read more about the history below.
—Source: Florida Highway Patrol