New Year’s Eve is the last hurrah of the holiday season - one last night to enjoy big parties, overindulge in food and drinks, and celebrate with friends and family.

While there’s plenty of fun to be had on New Year’s Eve, the New Year’s Eve holiday period is also one of the most dangerous periods to be on the road - it’s got one of the highest numbers of alcohol-related driving fatalities of the year.

At KOVA, we want you and your family to have a happy, safe, and healthy New Year, so we’re sharing these public safety tips for the holiday.

1. The safest thing to do on New Year’s is stay home. For those people who prefer to celebrate from the comfort of their couches, this is welcome news. If you’re one of the many who like to go to parties at friends’ homes, bars, clubs, or other venues, there’s nothing wrong with that. You just have to exercise some common sense and take a few extra precautions. The rest of these tips are for you.
2. Find a designated driver whom you trust implicitly. If you’re planning on being driven home by a friend rather than by taxi or taking public transportation, make sure the DD you choose is really trustworthy. It can be tempting enough to have a drink or two on a regular night out - that temptation is much stronger on a celebratory night like New Year’s Eve. If your DD does decide to drink, you want to know that he or she will be willing to relinquish the keys and find another, safe way to get home.
3. If you’re at a party hosted by a hotel, spring for a room. Do you generally go to one of those fancy, open bar parties that hotels often host? Strongly consider spending the extra money to get a room. Not only will you be able to get to bed without getting on the road, but you’ll also be able to enjoy yourself as much as you want at the party, without worrying about whether or not you’re able to drive or have a way to get home.
4. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your drink with you at all times. Just like your mom told you when you were in high school, it’s important that you stay alert and observant at any party you go to. This is true even if you’re among friends.

And as we all know, one of the biggest things you can do to ensure your safety is to keep your drink with you at all times, even when you go to the bathroom. If you must leave your drink for a minute, give it to a close friend whom you trust.

5. Follow your state laws when it comes to fireworks. If fireworks are legal in your state, then make sure you stay within the laws governing them. That may mean not setting them off after a certain time of night, or not setting them off in residential neighborhoods, or any other number of things.

And if fireworks aren’t legal where you live, then obviously you shouldn’t engage in this activity. Law enforcement is generally even more vigilant than usual on holidays, especially New Year’s Eve, so you can be fairly sure that you’ll end up facing the consequences of your actions.

6. Make sure your pets are safe by ensuring doors are closed and gates or fences are secure. New Year’s Eve can be a trying night for pets, especially if fireworks are going off or your neighbors are hosting loud parties. If your pet has anxiety about loud or unusual noises, make sure that he or she can’t run outside your house or yard. Pets who take off can get hit by cars, cause car accidents, or even bite or act aggressive out of fear.

We at KOVA are grateful to our public safety workers for working hard this holiday season to make sure the rest of us have safe and happy holidays. If we can help your public safety agency improve its functionality with a software solution like workforce optimization or Situation Management technology, please contact us!