3...2...1... countdown to the new year, not your time in jail! As celebrations begin, police warn Houstonians to not drive under the influence.
Houston officials warn people to have a designated driver during New Year's Eve celebrations while showing statistics of traffic deaths.As many people have plans to celebrate and ring in 2023, Houston officials are encouraging everyone to do so in a safe way.
"We lead the nation, Harris County, in DWI deaths, and we want to put an end to that," Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said in a press conference on Thursday. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, from Dec. 1, 2021, to Jan.1, 2022, 23% of all traffic deaths in the state involved drunk driving. Those crashes killed 98 people and seriously injured 236 people.
"Have a plan. Be responsible. designated driver rideshare. a number of things you can do. That is a crime that is 100% preventable. Just don't do it. Don't drink and drive," Finner said.. There were 66 of them last year over the three-day holiday weekend."The reality is when there's celebratory gunfire, people are getting injured and, in some cases, and may even end up getting killed," Mayor Sylvester Turner said.