Lots Of Love In South Florida
Sep 3, 2009 11:24 am US/Eastern
No Labor On Labor Day But Remember To Stay Safe
"Tow To Go" Program Will Offer Free Confidential Rides Home For People Who Have Had Too Much To Drink.
Call 1-800-AAA-HELP (222-4357)
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Labor Day, the traditional end of summer, also means an extra day of rest and relaxation for most people. A well-deserved three day weekend often means a road trip but AAA projects less vacationers on the road this Labor Day weekend.
Once again, "Tow To Go" will provide free confidential rides home and tow service to anyone in a bar or restaurant who has had too much to drink. The free phone number is 1-800-AAA-HELP (222-4357).
AAA Auto Club South and Budweiser are sponsoring the program that runs from September 4th through the 7th.
The program has kept more than 10,000 drunk drivers off the road since its inception in 1998.
"Everyone is at risk if a drunk driver gets behind the wheel, so AAA and Budweiser are providing the one service that also takes the intoxicated driver's car home so no one will take unnecessary risks this Labor Day weekend,"said Ed Schatzman, senior vice president of automotive services for AAA Auto Club South.
And the roads are going to be packed. AAA projects that 39.1 million travelers will take a trip of 50 miles or more from home this Labor Day, a 13.3 percent decrease from 2008. Despite that dip, AAA's number of projected travelers is the third highest for the Labor Day weekend this decade. Labor Day falls on Sept. 7 this year.
The Florida Highway Patrol will kick off the Labor Day holiday with a Regional Enforcement Effort on Friday. Troopers along with BSO deputies will crackdown on drivers on the Alligator Alley portion of I-75 which begins in Naples and ends in western Ft. Lauderdale. The enforcement effort will concentrate on speeding, aggressive driving, DUI, seat belt and child restraint violations to reduce traffic related injuries and deaths.
They'll also be enforcing Florida's
"Move Over Law" which requires drivers to move over to the next lane or slow down while approaching emergency vehicles that are stopped on interstate or other highways.
If you are hitting the roadways this weekend, whether it be a long drive or a short jaunt to a nearby South Florida beach, here are some important safety tips.
DRIVING:
- Always wear your seatbelt and make sure that all passengers do so as well. All infants and small children should be restrained in approved child safety seats.
- Try to do most driving during daylight hours; motorists driving under the influence are usually on the road after 9:00 p.m.
- If your vehicle stalls,, do your best to pull over on to the shoulder, well out of traffic lanes. Call for help and do not attempt to repair it yourself on the freeway.
- Always designate a safe driver that will not be drinking alcohol.
SWIMMING:
- Never leave children unattended. Drowning incidents in residential swimming pools are significantly higher involving children between the ages of one and four.
- Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
- Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
OUTDOOR COOKING:
- Use the grill at least 10 feet away from the house or any other structures.
- Keep children away from the grill and never leave the grill unattended.
- Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire.
- Do not pour lighter fluid on hot charcoal. This is the leading cause of grill-related burns.
- Never light a grill on the balcony of an apartment; it is illegal and extremely dangerous for all building occupants.
Labor Day also marks the end of the summer boating season, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boaters to use extra caution over the holiday. Florida has 1 million registered vessels, and accident statistics are sobering.
Florida recorded 54 boating fatalities in 2008, with more than 70 percent of the victims drowning. Typically, deaths occurred from falls overboard or vessels capsizing or flooding.
BOATING:
- The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim, especially anyone participating in boating activities.
- Alcohol and boating don't mix. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination, all of which are necessary for safe boating, especially for the vessel operator.
- Before leaving shore, ensure that the vessel is in good working condition and all safety equipment is on board and operational, including at least one Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every passenger on the boat.
- Prior to any boat excursion, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. In the event of an emergency, this information could be the key to finding you and bringing help to your location.
- Boat operators should maintain 360-degree awareness at all times to help avoid collisions with other boats, a fixed object, a person in the water or a submerged object.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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