We've all heard of Black Friday -- the day many people begin shopping for Christmas.
There is a Black Wednesday as well, otherwise know as Thanksgiving Eve. According to lifesaver.com, which uses National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, the night before Thanksgiving is unofficially the busiest bar night of the year. It also is the most traveled day of the year, with almost 90 percent of the travel done by car.
The day is particularly dangerous because in addition to drivers under the influence, many sober drivers speed while traveling distances, and many become tired or sleepy.
According to Drug Free Highlands, using information collected by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, driving conditions over the seasonal holidays -- Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year -- are made even more dangerous because so many young and inexperienced drivers are on the roads. College and high school students are on vacation, many of the younger people without close supervision. MADD reports that many accidents involve individuals between 15 and 20 years old, and that on average they have the highest blood levels among drivers under the influence.
According to alcoholalert.com, in 2009 Florida was ranked third in the country for the number of vehicle fatalities with more than 2,500. Of that number 904 were alcohol related, or 35 percent of the total. Texas and California were one and two, respectively.
Katie Box, with the sheriff's office, told the News-Sun there have been 164 alcohol-related traffic tickets issued in Highlands County since November 2011.
There is good news. The number of fatalities due to alcohol or drug impairment is dropping.
According to the Children's Trust for example, between 2005 and 2007 there were 10 alcohol related fatalities in Highlands County; between 2007 and 2009 there were four. With a rate of 4.3 deaths per 100,000, Highlands ranked sixth safest of the 67 counties.
Perhaps surprisingly, Miami-Dade County ranked as the safest county, with 5.1 deaths per 100,000. Seminole, Collier, Lafayette and Broward counties respectively finished out the top five.
Hamilton County, ranked 67, or most the dangerous, with 27.1 deaths per 100,000.
Famuanonline suggests several precautions when traveling over the holiday weekend. Check your tire pressure and brakes before getting on the road. Give yourself plenty of travel time, stay within the speed limit, wear your seat belt and if you do drink, assign a designated driver.
This is simply good sense. Especially as the counties surrounding us are hazardous. Okeechobee ranks 58 out of 67 counties; DeSoto ranks 47; Hardee ranks 43; and Polk County ranks 22.
The News-Sun wishes everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.
Be careful, count your blessings and have fun.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 - www.newssun.com/edt-112112-thanksgiving