St. Joseph drivers should use caution New Year’s Eve

By Kendra Simpson

Many St. Joseph residents will be celebrating the new year this coming Tuesday evening, but one wrong decision could prove fatal.

The National Safety Council estimates that 179 people may die on roadways throughout the United States Roads this New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 31, but that everyone can do their part to lower that number. 

When celebrating on New Year’s Eve, be sure to have a sober ride home and don’t let friends or family drive if they are intoxicated.

If there are no sober rides available, consider staying the night at a friend’s place or a family member’s home.

Additionally, St. Joseph has several ride sharing apps and services available in the area such as Uber, Lyft and many local cab companies.

To ensure the safety of everyone on the road, St. Joseph residents can expect a higher law enforcement presence on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve and early Wednesday morning on Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day. 

Along with securing a sober ride home, everyone should follow Missouri traffic laws such as buckling up, utilizing headlights and making sure to use turning signals.

Individuals are being advised to call the St. Joseph Police Department’s non-emergency number at 816-271-4777 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Troop H non-emergency number at 816-387-2345 if they encounter an impaired driver on the roadways.