The Ocean County Health Department is reminding and urging all residents to not drink and drive this holiday season. 

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports that two to three times more people die during Christmas and New Year's than any other time of the year from alcohol related crashes.

Health Department
The Ocean County Health Department (Courtesy Patch.com)
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Ocean County Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry Little, liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health says. "The statistics really are sobering. Almost 30 people in the United States  die every day in motor vehicle accidents involving an alcohol-impaired driver."

Daniel Regenye, the Ocean County Health Department Public Health Coordinator offers the following tips to anyone going or hosting a party:

  • Plan ahead. If you know you're going to drink, have a designated driver. Leave your car keys at home.
  • Don't let anyone behind the wheel if you know they've been drinking. Be non-confrontational, if all else fails call law enforcement.
  • Never get in the car with someone who has been drinking.
  • Keep the number of a taxi service on hand for guests.

Drunk driving deaths have decreased over the last decade, but a new concern is texting while driving which can be as much as 6 times as dangerous as drinking while driving.

For more information visit the Ocean County Health Department's website.

 

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