Colorado summers always seem to fly by. The good news is that summers conclude with a three-day Labor Day weekend, giving us all an extra day to enjoy friends and families before thoughts turn to autumn.
As always, we urge our readers to fully enjoy themselves, but to do so with the understanding that law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force looking for people driving under the influence of alcohol.
The National Safety Council each year issues safety tips for driving on Labor Day and other extended holiday weekends. One of the most important is that if you’re going to be having a drink or two with friends, be sure to have a designated driver.
Of course, there are other options available, too, such as calling a cab or getting a ride with one of the new ride-share, taxi-alternative services.
No matter when you drive or share a ride, it’s always critical that you wear a seatbelt. The National Safety Council estimates that about 140 people will survive a traffic crash this weekend simply because they wore seatbelts. If everyone wore seatbelts, an additional 100 people would live through the weekend.
So please make sure everyone is buckled up in your vehicle before you take off.
Because there is often heavy traffic near certain Denver-area destinations on holiday weekends, it’s a good idea to leave plenty of travel time so that drivers can avoid frustration and the urge to speed or indulge in other unsafe driving habits.
Because Colorado has harsh penalties for speeding, careless/reckless driving, and most of all, DUI, we will be there if you need us after the holiday or any other time to help you.