At this time of year, with many holiday parties taking place, DUI accidents in Hollywood and the rest of Southern Florida become a real concern for authorities. Each year, drunk driving accidents happen in the region because passenger car drivers make bad decisions after drinking.
However, it’s not just a passenger car drivers who take risks. Commercial truck drivers have stricter rules about drinking and driving. They are subject to random drug and alcohol tests in many cases and there is less tolerance if they cause an accident while under the influence. Despite this, DUI accidents involving trucks can and do take place.
If you are a driver in South Florida, there isn’t much you can do about the choices truck drivers and other passenger car drivers make. However, there are ways you can stay safer:
1) Have more than one plan to get home safely.
One of the best ways to prevent DUI accidents is to avoid drinking and driving yourself. The best way to do that is to have multiple ways of getting home safely. If you’re going to a holiday event or to an event where you may be drinking, make sure you have enough money for a cab home, contact information for friends and family who can give you a safe drive home, and other options to avoid drinking and driving. Don’t just rely on a designated driver or taxi. If you have only one plan and that plan is not feasible for some reason, you may be tempted to drive home yourself. Having a backup plan (and an alternative plan in case that falls through) increases the chances that you’ll the make the right decision.
2) Don’t rely on your judgment — plan ahead.
One reason people drink and drive is because they get so inebriated that they make poor choices. For this reason, it’s important to plan ahead. Before you head to an event, have a plan. Take public transportation or a taxi to the event so that you’re not tempted to drive, for example. Or, hand over your keys to someone else if you’re planning on drinking. Anything that takes the decision out of your hands can help you avoid a DUI accident.
3) Talk to friends and family about DUI risks.
Help your loved ones make the right decisions about drinking and driving. Offer to act as a designated driver if your loved ones need a safe ride home. Encourage your friends, family, and children to make the right decisions when it comes to drinking and driving.
4) Think about driving fatigue.
Many people assume that as long as they haven’t been drinking, they’re okay to drive home after a holiday party or event. This is not always the case. If you’re driving home late at night or very early in the morning, especially, extreme fatigue can affect your response times and your motor skills as much as drinking and driving can. In addition, during these times you may be more likely to share the road with large trucks, which can put you more at risk. Treat fatigued driving a seriously as you treat drunk driving.
5) Report trucks being driven erratically.
Although most commercial drivers are conscientious when it comes to drinking and driving on the job, some drivers do make mistakes. If you notice a commercial truck driver driving negligently, contact authorities.
If you have been injured by a drunk driver or by negligent commercial truck driver, contact the attorneys at Flaxman Law Group. Our team is dedicated to helping plaintiffs who have been injured seek compensation for their losses. We’re pleased to offer a free accident consultation to those who have been injured.