New Year’s Eve is a time for celebrating a new year of resolutions and opportunities. However, while you might be thinking of the year ahead on NYE, it is important to plan for the night itself to ensure you get home safely. Whether you are spending your evening locally in Federal Way, Washington, at an event like the Rumba Kings NYE Special, or are checking out some of the gatherings Seattle or Tacoma have to offer, use these helpful New Years Eve safety tips to stay safe.
Drunk driving is a year-round issue, with 30% of traffic crash fatalities in the United States involving drunk drivers. National Safety Council data from 2020 shows that fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver increased to 49% on New Year’s, while data from SafeAuto found that there were 71% more accidents with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor in the 12-hour period between 6 pm on December 31st and 6 am on January 1st. To help you celebrate safely, we have compiled our best tips for a safe NYE, whether you are driving yourself or want to take advantage of local transportation options.
Save Time, Money, and Stress: Local Services for NYE Rides
- King County Metro is offering free fares from 3 am, Dec 31, 2022 to 3 am, Jan 1, 2023 to help you get home safely
- Schedule your Uber or Lyft ahead of time and choose less busy time windows (i.e., avoid midnight or 2 am when bars close) to avoid surge pricing
››› Bonus tip: if you are new to Lyft or Uber, use a new rider promo code to get a discount on your NYE trip (if you’re an existing rider, share your personal referral code with a friend in your group who can order the ride) - Check out alternate rideshare apps like Wingz to compare prices before booking. Services like Dryver can help you book a driver-for-hire or arrange to have you and your car picked up and driven home
- Make your safe ride fun: if you are going out in a group this NYE, book a party bus to get to and from your destination safely
Keep Yourself and Your Loved Ones Safe: NYE Safe Driving Tips
- Designate a sober driver for your group and find a safe parking location near your event
- Ensure that your vehicle’s headlights, turn signals, and other safety features are functioning properly before you head out for the night
- If your NYE celebration is not close to home, consider asking a friend who lives closer to the event if you can stay with them afterward
- Many law enforcement agencies conduct enhanced patrols on New Year’s Eve. Make sure you have your license, insurance, and registration in an easily accessible spot in case you encounter one
- If you are familiar with the area you’ll be driving in, try to avoid heavy traffic, high-speed, or poorly lit routes
Protect Your Best Interests After an Accident
Although we do our best to keep ourselves and other drivers safe, car accidents can still occur, especially around holidays like New Year’s Eve when intoxicated drivers are more likely to be on the roads. The Ranz Injury Law team has extensive experience representing car and motorcycle accident victims, as well as victims of pedestrian collisions and bicycle accidents (both of which often occur on holidays like NYE, when many of us may be walking or cycling to watch local fireworks displays. According to the NHTSA, January 1st is one of the two deadliest days of the year for pedestrian accidents).
If you are involved in a traffic accident, call or text Ranz Injury Law at (206) 429-5227 for a free, no-obligation initial case evaluation. If you retain Ranz Injury Law to represent you, you pay nothing out of pocket. There are no fees if there is no settlement. We will be there for you every step of the way to ensure that your case receives the individualized, expert attention it deserves.
“…there were 71% more accidents with drugs or alcohol as a contributing factor in the 12-hour period between 6 pm on Dec. 31 and 6 am Jan. 1.”
Citations
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Drunk Driving
- National Safety Council (NSC) – Holiday Traffic Fatality Estimate: New Year’s Day
- Elite Driving School – New Years Driving Statistics – The Facts
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – National Pedestrian Crash Report
