New Year’s Eve is the last day of the Gregorian calendar year, December 31, and is commonly celebrated with fireworks and parties that may continue into New Year’s Day (January 1). This year, December 31 falls on a Wednesday.
Check out our previous New Year’s article for more information on how New York City has traditionally celebrated the holiday!
The month of December is also the U.S.’s National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of driving drunk or under the influence of drugs and urging everyone to protect themselves and others by staying sober behind the wheel. This is no coincidence: alcohol consumption rates skyrocket during the holidays and their festivities, especially Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This combined with increased travel and late-night celebrations make December the deadliest month of the year for driving in the United States, with drivers and pedestrians both at risk.
Driving under the influence has caused thousands of deaths during the holiday season alone, and the rate of fatal car accidents spikes on New Year’s Eve. If you are going out to celebrate the new year and intend to drink, there are several safety precautions you can take to keep yourself and others from harm:
● Never drive if you have been drinking or are under the influence of drugs, and never ride in a vehicle with a driver who is has been drinking or using drugs
● Use public transport or have a designated driver, who will stay sober and transport everyone safely back home at the end of the night
● If possible, stay at your location (friend’s home, hotel, etc.) overnight instead of trying to drive home impaired
● When driving, wear a seat belt to prevent serious injury or death in case of a crash
● If you are hosting an event, pay attention to your guests and help anyone too impaired to drive get home safely or stay put until they are able to safely drive home
○ Be sure to provide food, water and other non-alcoholic beverage options to your guests
● Be aware of the signs of a drunk driver on the road, including swerving, hitting or almost hitting objects/other vehicles, stopping/braking erratically, and driving on the wrong side of the road, and call 911 to report a dangerous driver
○ Be aware of your location on the road and the direction you and other drivers are going so you can give emergency services the most accurate possible information, if needed
New Year’s Day is a federal holiday in the United States, so you can expect schools, government buildings, and banks to be closed, and businesses to be closed or operating on limited hours. Expect late-night fireworks and crowds in restaurants, bars, and other popular destinations, and if necessary make preparations for pets who may be upset by the noise. Around Times Square, roads will begin closing to pedestrian and vehicular traffic the morning of December 31 for the famous ball drop celebration: check the official Times Square webpage here for more information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us anytime at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay safe and healthy, and Happy New Year!
