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Drive Sober This Independence Day, and Every Day: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving

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This Independence Day, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Watch UR BAC program, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) want to remind drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.


No matter how people choose to celebrate Independence Day, do it safely and always have a sober ride. Anyone under the influence of alcohol that chooses to get behind the wheel of a vehicle not only puts everyone on the road in danger but also themselves. Fourth of July festivities often start early in the day and go into the evening or late at night, causing more cars to be on the roads at night. In 2019, 515 people died in motor vehicle traffic
crashes over the July Fourth holiday period. Thirty-eight percent (198) of those fatalities
occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Many of the drivers arrested for drunk driving on the Fourth of July have likely been drinking alcohol throughout the day at various planned
gatherings.


“We want our community to have a happy and safe Independence Day, one that they’ll remember for years to come, for all the right reasons,” said AgriLife Extension Family and Community Health Agent Mary Shockley, Hunt County. “We’ve partnered with NHTSA and TxDOT to help remind drivers that even one drink before driving is when impairment begins. Under no circumstance is it ever OK to drink and drive. This behavior is illegal, it’s deadly, and it’s selfish. Do everyone in your community a favor: If you’ll be drinking at a Fourth of July party, or for any occasion, plan ahead for a sober ride.”


From 2015 to 2019, there were 1,339 people killed in drunk-driving crashes over the Fourth of July holiday. Of those people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, almost 4 out of 5 (79 percent) of them occurred in nighttime crashes (between 6:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.). Watch UR BAC’s goal is for everyone to enjoy red, white, and blue in their flags, fireworks, and family gatherings — not in their rear-view mirror. The only way to prevent this is to never drink and drive.


Celebrate with a Plan
This Fourth of July, the Watch UR BAC program, NHTSA, and TxDOT urge drivers to designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. If planning on drinking, plan how to safely travel without driving.


Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family and Community Health Educator Mary Shockley, Hunt
County, reminds drivers to follow these tips for a safe night on the roads:
● Remember: It is never OK to drink and drive — even if after only one alcoholic
beverage. Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to
get home safely.
● Suspect a motorist on the road is driving drunk or intoxicated? Contact local law
enforcement immediately.
● Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take their keys away and make
arrangements to get them home safely.

Intoxication is More Than Alcohol: Drive High. Get a DWI!

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Everyone knows that “buzzed driving” is drunk driving, but what about driving high? The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Watch UR BAC team is spreading the word that it is illegal to drive while impaired by any substance, including drugs.

In 2020, 56 percent of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug. This is why it is so important to spread this life-saving message: Drive High. Get a DWI. It does not matter what term is used—high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk—no one should get behind the wheel impaired. Think being high will not affect a person’s driving? That is wrong. It has been proven that marijuana can slow reaction times, impair cognitive performance, and make it more difficult for drivers to keep a steady position in their lane.


Marijuana is not the only drug that will cause this kind of impairment. Multiple other illegal
drugs can cause slowed reaction time, drowsiness, blurred vision, poor balance, and other
deficiencies, which will impact a driver from being able to safely operate a vehicle.
If selected to be a designated driver, stick to the plan: Do not use drugs (legally or illegally
obtained). For all drivers, the best defense against impaired drivers on the road is their seatbelt. Wear it on every trip, and make sure all passengers are also buckled up.

Drug-impaired driving is a big problem. It is deadly, illegal, and a rising challenge for law
enforcement. Although a lot of focus on impaired driving is centered around holidays, make no mistake, it happens every day on Texas roadways. If any type of drug is being taken, whether it is prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal, pass the keys to a sober friend. Remember: A DWI applies to more than just alcohol. No matter what kind of drug has been used, if someone feels different it will make them drive differently.

Remember these safety tips and spread the message to friends and family members:
● If using an impairing substance (such as marijuana), do not drive. Passengers should
never ride with an impaired driver. If a driver appears that they may be impaired, do not
get in the car with them.
● If planning to use drugs, plan ahead for a sober driver to safely drive to the destination.
Like drunk driving, it is essential that drug-impaired drivers refrain from driving a
vehicle. It is never OK to drive while impaired by any substance.
● Even over-the-counter and prescription medications can have impairing effects. Take
caution before driving after using any medication.
● Have a friend who is about to drive while impaired by drugs? Take the keys away and
arrange to get them home safely. Do not worry about offending someone—they will be
thankful later.
● If available, use the community’s sober ride program.
● If an impaired driver is suspected on the road, call 911 immediately when it is safe to do
so.