Partying in Paterson Can Lead to Deadly Car Accidents

If all the Paterson coffee shops are promoting whipped cream-topped peppermint mochas, spiced teas and hot apple ciders it means only one thing… The holidays are here!

Now that it’s the 1st of December, our unseasonably warm temps are on the way out and office parties, progressive dinners and neighborhood potlucks are on the way in. Everyone loves a reason to eat, drink and be merry. Just remember, moderation in all these things not only saves face, it saves lives!

We have a young population here in Paterson. With our median age at 30.5, there’s no doubt Paterson loves to have fun. And we should! But there’s a valid reason The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. In one year, more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. That number doesn’t even total 1% of the estimated 159 million actual occurrences of drunk/drugged driving American adults admit to each year.

Let’s imagine all things tallied into that statistic are completely equal over all 12 months and all 50 states and their populations. That would mean 265,000 New Jersey adults will drive their cars intentionally while inebriated with drugs and/or alcohol during this month alone! In reality, that number is likely to be higher because of our state’s dense population and the very festive time of year.

Paterson residents will spend the entire month getting ready to celebrate, actively celebrating, enjoying time off work and then topping it all off with New Year’s Eve. Be smart. Know your limits. Plan ahead to have (or be) a designated driver when you party. And don’t let someone you know get behind the wheel if he or she is intoxicated.

This time of year is for fun and frivolity, not death and despair. If you’re going to be driving around Paterson, stick to drinking peppermint mochas and save the peppermint schnapp’s for nights when you’re just riding along or staying at home.