FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  October 17, 2007

CONTACT: Beth Player, 937-374-5664, bplayer@gcchd.org

Beware! This Halloween

Don’t Let Your Good Time Turn Into a Nightmare

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

 [Xenia, Ohio]—Halloween is a much-loved Fall tradition that is enjoyed by people of all ages. But irresponsible celebrating can quickly spoil a fun evening. That’s why the Greene County Safe Communities is reminding all Halloween partiers that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving and to designate a sober driver before the festivities begin.

“Halloween should be a time for scary costumes, trick or treating with the kids and good family fun,” said Beth Player. “But unfortunately, Halloween has also become a very dangerous and deadly night of the year due to impaired driving.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 41 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night involved a driver or a motorcycle operator with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, which is illegal in every state.

For a safer Halloween weekend, Greene County Safe Communities recommends these simple tips:

§         Designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys;

§         If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to help get you home safely;

§         Promptly report drunk drivers you see on the roadways to law enforcement;

§         Always buckle up—it’s still your best defense against an impaired driver;

§         And remember, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.  If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

“Real-life Halloween nightmares are simple to avoid if you make smart decisions. Never drive drunk. Designate your sober driver in advance. And remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, make sure you don’t drive while impaired.”

For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.