The Sandersville Police Department is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in reminding drivers to not get behind the wheel of a car if they are planning to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an alcoholic beverage. Sandersville Police have zero tolerance for drunk drivers, and anyone found to be over the state limit of a .08 BAC will be taken to jail.
Drunk driving has unfortunately become a deadly tradition on Cinco de Mayo. In fact, one third of crashes on the 2021 Cinco de Mayo holiday involved a drunk driver.
“We want everyone to have a fun celebration, but we don’t want anyone to go from being the life of the party to a death on the highway,” said Captain Kelly Collins of the Sandersville Police Department. “If adults aged 21 and older make the decision to celebrate Cinco de Mayo by drinking alcohol, they need to make the smart decision to not get behind the wheel and drive.”
In the rush of party preparations, it is easy to forget the most important element of all, which is designating a sober driver. One cannot leave it to chance and wait until after the party has started to decide whether they will be okay to drive. By that point, it is too late. Going out for a night of drinking without a plan for getting safely home is a recipe for disaster.
The following are a number of easy ways to ensure safety while drinking alcohol on Cinco de Mayo:
– One should decide ahead of time if they are going to drink.
– If planning on driving, commit to staying sober.
– Program rideshare service numbers into a cell phone or plan ahead.
– If someone is intoxicated, do not let them drive or walk home.
– See an impaired driver on the road? Call Sandersville Police at 552-3038.
In addition to the above-mentioned consequences, there is also financial impacts of impaired driving. The cost of a DUI can reach upwards of $10,000. Jail time, lawyer fees, court costs, lost wages, insurance increases, and a suspended license will quickly add up financially so heed precautions and never drink and drive.
