If startling statistics about alcohol-related crashes during previous Labor Day weekends aren’t incentive enough to drive only when completely sober, consider the fact that stepped-up police patrols between now and Sept. 7 will be working overtime to find and arrest drunk drivers. The effort is aimed at saving drivers from making potentially fatal mistakes.

According to figures provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, even first-time offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated face a possible fine of up to $2,000, loss of their driver license for as long as a year and up to 180 days in jail.

It doesn’t make sense for anyone to take the risk of being out on the highways after consuming alcohol, particularly during Labor Day weekend when chances are fairly good that a greater number of other offenders will be sharing the road with you. That’s double trouble and a potential recipe for disaster.

The most sensible thing to do when you can’t wait until alcohol is out of your system before driving is to call for a taxi cab. The cost is reasonable, especially when one considers the ramifications of facing a DWI charge or injuring or killing someone, including yourself.

We urge our readers to also consider what driving while intoxicated can do to one’s family, even if none of them are in the vehicle. It would be a shame to have the last thing said about you be that your death was due to a senseless decision to drive drunk.If startling statistics about alcohol-related crashes during previous Labor Day weekends aren’t incentive enough to drive only when completely sober, consider the fact that stepped-up police patrols between now and Sept. 7 will be working overtime to find and arrest drunk drivers. The effort is aimed at saving drivers from making potentially fatal mistakes.

According to figures provided by the Texas Department of Transportation, even first-time offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated face a possible fine of up to $2,000, loss of their driver license for as long as a year and up to 180 days in jail.

It doesn’t make sense for anyone to take the risk of being out on the highways after consuming alcohol, particularly during Labor Day weekend when chances are fairly good that a greater number of other offenders will be sharing the road with you. That’s double trouble and a potential recipe for disaster.

The most sensible thing to do when you can’t wait until alcohol is out of your system before driving is to call for a taxi cab. The cost is reasonable, especially when one considers the ramifications of facing a DWI charge or injuring or killing someone, including yourself.

We urge our readers to also consider what driving while intoxicated can do to one’s family, even if none of them are in the vehicle. It would be a shame to have the last thing said about you be that your death was due to a senseless decision to drive drunk.