While preparations are being made for New Year's celebrations, the Ross County Health District is encouraging people to plan how they will get to and from their parties. Rami Yoakum, with the Health Department, said many people are involved in fatal crashes annually: " About 200 alcohol-related deaths on the first day of the year was kind of an average."
Yoakum offered the following tips to individuals to reduce their chances at becoming a statistic:
*get a designated driver;
*call a cab;
*stay where you are overnight;
*don't go out if you don't have to.
As for anyone who has to be on the roadways that night, Yoakum said he or she should drive defensively. This can be done by wearing a seat belt, never assuming other drivers will act logically, driving at a safe distance from other vehicles, not speeding, and avoiding distractions, such as cell phones, the car stereo, or passenger activity.
