We love to celebrate the 4th of July with family, friends, food, and fireworks, but all too often the festivities turn tragic on the nation’s roads.

The fact is, this iconic American holiday is also one of the deadliest holidays of the year due to drunk-driving crashes.

Over the 4th of July holiday period in 2016 (6 P.M. on July 2nd to 5:59 A.M. on July 6th)

• 188 people were killed in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.  This is a 28% increase from 2015 (146 fatalities).

Nearly half of those who died were in a vehicle crash involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .15 or higher – almost twice the legal limit.

SaferRide, NHTSA’s Mobile App

NHTSA’s SaferRide app will help keep impaired drivers off our roads by allowing users to call a taxi or a friend and by identifying their location so they can be picked up.

For Apple devices, from iTunes: Click Here
For Android devices, from Google Play store: Click Here

Originally Posted on Idealease Safety Bulletin