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4 Ways to Stay Safe in Austin on New Year’s Eve

4 Ways to Stay Safe in Austin on New Year’s Eve

As 2018 winds down and you begin looking forward to 2019, remember: The best way to get the new year off to a good start is to stay safe on New Year’s Eve. Some common sense, planning ahead, and situational awareness will help ensure a smooth and festive transition from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. These four tips are a good place to start.

  1. Have a house party where you control the environment.

Sometimes it makes sense to avoid strange places and unfamiliar situations—and if you want to celebrate but stay in a safe environment, what could fit the bill better than your own home? If you host festivities at your place, you get to stay in control of all the elements of the evening: the guest list, the atmosphere, and what (and how much) people are drinking. Have a fun—and safe—night with people you trust, whose company you truly enjoy. Stay off the roads during one of the most dangerous driving nights of the year. And if you do serve alcohol, make sure to offer food along with it—and keep an eye on guests who may have had too much. Take their keys and offer them a place to sleep, if need be.

  1. Arrange transportation ahead of time.

If you are going out and planning on drinking, driving will obviously be out of the question. And you may not be able to depend on that taxi or ride-share car coming when you need it. Consider lining up your transportation before you ever leave the house—either by carpooling with friends and appointing a designated sober driver or booking a limo for the night.

  1. If you’re going out for the evening, travel in groups when possible.

There’s a reason they say “safety in numbers,” because it’s true. You’re less vulnerable to mishaps if you’re with a group of people that have your back. If you’re hitting the town, plan to arrive and leave together with your group. Share your plans with your friends, and let them know where you are if plans change. (It’s a good idea to carry a phone charger with you so you can keep the lines of communication open.)

  1. Avoid leaving your car somewhere other than your home overnight.

New Year’s Day is the second-most active day for car thefts. Automobiles left in unfamiliar and unsecure areas can be easy prey for thieves. If you can, plan to have your car back at your house by the time Jan. 1 dawns—either by staying sober and driving it yourself or by making other transportation plans and leaving it there in the first place. If you do have to leave your car, be sure it’s locked securely, and pick it up as soon as you can.

It’s a good idea to be extra cautious and aware of your surroundings on New Year’s Eve and other public festive occasions—but no day is a good day to be in an accident. If that should happen to you or a loved one, the personal injury attorneys at Evans Law Firm can help you make the best out of a bad turn of events. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Attorney Chip Evans

Austin Attorney Chip EvansChip Evans is a partner at Evans & Herlihy. Chip brings to the firm more than 20 years of experience as a trial lawyer representing Plaintiffs. It is the desire to help individuals, not corporations, that attracts Chip to this side of the docket. [ Attorney Bio ]