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Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and festivities.  Unfortunately, those festivities may lead to tragedy. Already 106 people have died as the result of fatal vehicle crashes in Charlotte, Collier and Lee Counties in the first 10.5 months of 2014, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. During the holiday period Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, the accident rate is expected to increase.

Awareness

MADD (Mothers' Against Drunk Drivers) would like everyone to remember that before enjoying the holidays with alcoholic beverages, take time to select a designated driver. To help remind everyone of the importance of this, MADD is asking everyone to, "...put a MADD red ribbon in a visible location on their vehicles as a reminder to always designate a non-drinking driver." They have ribbons and magnets available on their website.

Tie One On For Safety© was started in 1986 and is, "...MADD's longest running and most visible public awareness project. The name Tie One On For Safety comes from the phrase 'tie one on,' which is slang for drinking alcohol."  MADD is using the phrase as a reminder that drinking and driving do not mix."

Be A Responsible Host

There is more to hosting a party than preparing the guest list and sending out invitations. Hosts need to be "Responsible Hosts."  The State University of New York, Sociology Department recommends on their website, Alcohol Problems and Solutions, that responsible hosts:

1. Serve plenty of snacks and other food.
2. Provide a variety of popular soft drinks, juices, bottled water, coffee and tea.
3. Have one person (yourself or someone else ) be responsible for serving alcohol.
4. Make certain that whoever serves alcohol monitors guests' consumption.
5. Control access to all alcohol.
6. Don't provide any common source of alcoholic beverages such as kegs or punch bowls.
7. Serve guests only one drink at a time.
8. Provide entertainment and other activities so that drinking alcohol is not the primary focus of the party.
9. Don't serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.
10. Model appropriate behavior and don't become intoxicated.
11. Stop serving alcoholic beverages at least one hour before the party ends. Encourage guests to stay for a while and enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage and some food.
12. If anyone does become intoxicated, don't leave that person alone. Even if the guest is not driving, an intoxicated can be injured in many ways.
13. If necessary, provide transportation for impaired guests. Call a cab, enlist the help of a sober friend, or take the impaired guest home yourself.

Report Drivers Under The Influence

The FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) has made it convenient for drivers to report those who may be driving under the influence (DUI). Using a cell phone drivers may call *FHP (*347). Dialing *FHP  will put the callers in touch with the closest FHM communications center, free of charge.

Tow & Go

The American Automobile Association (AAA) in partnership with Bud Light has provided a "last resort service" for members and non-members since 1998. According to the AAA Foundation this service has successfully removed more than 23,000 intoxicated drivers from the roads. Tow & Go now provides:

• Confidential local ride within a 10-mile radius to a safe location
• Service is provided in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee
• Free and available to both AAA members and non-members
• The AAA tow truck takes the vehicle and the driver home

In Florida you can call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.

Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. says, "Our law firm sees the results of DUI accidents far too often. They are devastating to all of those involved.  We urge partygoers to be responsible and choose designated drivers before attending  parties, and for party hosts to act responsibly."

Hurt By Drunk Driver 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 in Collier County 239.793.7748.