U.S. Virgin Islands – This Halloween, the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety (VIOHS) urges everyone to remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Drivers should be extra cautious on Halloween, as more pedestrians are out at night on the hunt for candy and more drivers are heading to and from festive gatherings. If your plans involve joining the night's revelry, make sure you've plotted a sober ride home. To all designated drivers, be the unsung heroes of the evening and uphold that responsibility for yourself, your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians on the road. It’s never safe to drink and drive.
For many, Halloween is a magical night filled with imaginative costumes and delightful trick-or-treating. Yet, for some, it casts a dark shadow turning joy into sorrow. Choose not to be part of this grim tale, this Halloween. Commit to not driving under the influence. Drivers should remain vigilant for pedestrians, from children eagerly trick-or-treating to adults who might be impaired from drinking. Walking under the influence is dangerous, as inattentiveness to surroundings can endanger pedestrians, making roads hazardous for everyone. Let’s ensure Halloween remains a night of fun, not tragedy.
No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drunk driving. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get in the vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone — you might be saving their life, or someone else’s. Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you’re already too impaired to make the right choices.
No matter what your Halloween festivities include, make sure your party plans include a sober ride home if you’ll be out drinking,” said VIOHS Director Daphne O’Neal. “We want our community to have a fun Halloween but, more importantly, a safe Halloween. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink responsibly — even one drink can impair judgement. You should never put yourself, or others, at risk because you made the choice to drink and drive.” Always Remember:
Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.
For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or www.viohs.com or to request a traffic safety presentation, contact the Virgin Islands Office of Highway Safety through Director Daphne O’Neal at daphne.oneal@vipd.vi.gov, Impaired Driving Coordinator K’ Tonya Petrus at k’tonya.petrus@vi.gov. You may also contact the office via telephone at (340) 772-3025, or (340) 513-5291.