Stay Safe This New Year's Eve!

The 2014 year is less than a week away, and this means people everywhere are planning their New Year's Eve parties and events. New Year's Eve is a fun and exciting time when you get say "goodbye" to the previous 365 days and "hello" to the next year. Whether you plan on bringing in the new year with just a couple of your close friends and family members, or if you're going into town to watch the ball drop, there are some precautions you should take to stay safe.

New Year's Eve Safe Driving

According to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, New Year's Eve is the second deadliest day for drivers in the U.S., with July 4th topping the list. While the number of automobile accident related deaths vary from year to year, there are typically around 140 on New Year's Eve.

With millions of people taking the streets to celebrate the new year, pedestrian deaths from automobile accidents are also high on New Year's Eve. From 1986 to 2002, there have been a reported 410 pedestrian deaths caused by automobile accident, which is the single highest of any given day of the year.

If you plan on hitting the road this New Year's Eve, stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all time. Even if YOU'RE being safe and following all of the driving laws, this doesn't mean that other drivers are doing the same.

I'm sure this is common sense to most people, but have a designated driver if you plan to drink on New Year's Eve. Alcohol can greatly impair your ability to react behind the wheel, which is one of the reasons why accident rates are high this time of year. The bottom line is that drivers should never get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.

Fireworks Safety

When you're busy enjoying the New Year's celebrations, it's easy to forget about the potential dangers of using fireworks. When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, millions of Americans will ignite their fireworks. If you plan to partake in this celebratory activity, refer to the safety tips listed below:

• Never allow children to ignite fireworks
• Avoid using fireworks around trees or vegetation
• Only use fireworks in the manner for which they are intended
• Keep a water hose nearby in the event of a fire
• If a firework doesn't ignite after lighting, spray it with water and leave it until the morning
• Sparklers cause more injuries than any other type of firework due to their high heat output