Staying safe on the roads this New Year’s


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ALBANY, NY (WENY) — In New York State, three out of every ten fatal car crashes are alcohol related, and they’re totally preventable. With increased patrols over the holiday weekend, law enforcement officials say drivers headed to any New Year’s festivities should plan on driving sober or drink responsibly over a long period of time.

“Preferably, you don’t drink at all,” Chemung Co. Sheriff Bill Schrom said, adding, “However, if you feel the need to have a drink, keep it limited and drink early-on to give yourself enough time to get that out of your system before leaving the gathering.”





Schrom says if people chose to have multiple drinks in a short time, the risk of getting behind the wheel is not worth taking. While he understands people can get caught up in celebrating the holiday festivities, he explains the consequences aren’t worth it.

“It’s not worth it to yourself to get involved in an accident or getting arrested,” Schrom said, adding, “The costs associated with that; whether it’s losing your license, getting a conditional license, if you’re involved in an accident and you damage your vehicle and or somebody else’s, it’s really not worth it.”

Schrom also suggested ways to get around that problem if people do get a little too carried away and feel unfit to drive.





















“There are so many options out there,” Schrom said, adding, “Either walking, contacting somebody to come and get you, a ton of different services that can give people rides. I think in this day and age, there’s really not an excuse to do that.”

Sheriff Schrom also says drivers that find themselves in a situation where they’re stuck behind a drunk driver should keep their distance. If possible he added, call 911 or a non-emergency number station number at 607-737-2933, and provide the license plate number, description of the car and the direction the vehicle is headed in.

 









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