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According to the New York Post on May 7, 2018, a 79-year-old woman was charged with drunk driving after she crashed into a Westchester county restaurant and injured nine people, including four who were left in critical condition. A subsequent police press release said that the woman from Yonkers, New York, was backing out of a parking spot at the restaurant, on a Sunday evening, when she hit two cars and then barreled into the eatery.

 “These accidents are all too common and 100 percent preventable,” said Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey. “When you plan a night out, always make a designated driver part of the plan.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says, “The statistics are horrifying. The danger is real, and it can wreak life-changing devastation anytime, anywhere, in the blink of an eye. The destruction ripples out, impacting two out of three people in their lifetime.”

The MADD phrase, “If not today, then tomorrow” is haunting but real. MADD reported in 2017 that Florida had 841 drunk-driving deaths in 2016 (latest available statistics). Drunk driving is the #1 cause of death on our roadways. These deaths could have been prevented if a designated driver was part of the plan.

Planning a time out with friends and family must include plans for a designated driver first. This cannot be taken lightly or handled by chance. Once a potential driver becomes inebriated, the thought of a designated driver, most likely, will not enter the person’s mind. MADD has a formal pledge on its website that everyone can take. 

The pledge, however, is only the first step. Each and every time alcohol is consumed, a designated driver must be used. Designated drivers save lives. Should a designated driver not be available, the planning must include a rideshare service, such as a taxi or Uber.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) says:

“Alcohol is a depressant because it slows down the functions of the central nervous system. This means that normal brain function is delayed, and a person is unable to perform normally. Alcohol affects a person’s information-processing skills, also known as cognitive skills, and hand-eye coordination also referred to as psychomotor skills. Consuming alcohol prior to driving greatly increases the risk of car accidents, highway injuries, and vehicular deaths. The greater the amount of alcohol consumed, the more likely a person is to be involved in an accident. When alcohol is consumed, many of the skills that safe driving requires, such as judgment, concentration, comprehension, coordination, visual acuity, and reaction time, become impaired.”

“At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., we see the aftermath of drunk-driving accidents. Should you or a loved one be injured in a drunk-driving accident, please contact our experienced legal team. We are here 24/7 to assist you,” said Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers DUI Accident Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and Collier County 239.793.7748.