Plan ahead to have a safe celebration New Year's Eve

The Nebraska State Patrol felt compelled to issue a news release about a speeding ticket on Interstate 80 on Christmas eve.

What made it newsworthy?

According to the release, Brandon P. Vasquez of Scottsdale, Arizona, was clocked at 127 m.p.h. in a 75-m.p.h. zone.

The "good" news: he was driving a BMW, a car engineered for the high speeds of the German autobahn and able to handle Nebraska's straight, flat freeway better than most vehicles.

The bad news: He faces charges of driving while intoxicated.

The best news: He was removed from the highway before he killed or injured himself or someone else.

That wasn't the outcome for more 10,322 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2012, the most recent year available. That translates to one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 51 minutes.

Vasquez's blood alcohol content wasn't immediately released, but nearly 60 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .15 or greater.

Of all drivers involved in fatal crashes during the week, 15 percent were alcohol-impaired, compared to 30 percent on weekends.

Of course, that means 85 percent of drivers in fatal crashes during the week and 70 percent on the weekends were not officially intoxicated, although we suspect drunk driving is under-reported.

Factors such as sleepiness, texting and talking on cell-phones are, unfortunately, also increasingly involved in fatal accidents.

It's probably a good idea that recent public service announcements have pointed out less-obvious consequences of drunk-driving -- loss of driving license and even a girl and a car -- and not just the potential loss of life.

Whatever the motive, we hope readers will take steps to make sure they and their friends arrive home safely from New Year's revelries.

We suggest using a designated driver system, calling a cab or taking advantage of free ride home services like that being offered by the Janssen Auto Group (Joe Slaby at 308-520-1774 in McCook).

Better yet, avoid the problem altogether by taking part in the alcohol-free "Oh What A Night" New Year's celebration in downtown McCook.

Highlights of the celebration include:

Keystone Business Center:

* Ice skating: 5-9 p.m. at the Keystone Business Center parking lot

* 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Kids' Cocoa & Canvas class, dining room (RSVP to ohwhatanightmccook@gmail.com as space is limited)

* 8:30-10:30 p.m.: Cocoa & Canvas, dining room (this class is for older children and adults - RSVP for this as well)

* 9 p.m. to midnight: Dance with Divine Productions, lobby

Fox Theatre:

* 3:30-10:30 p.m.: Bracelet sales at the ticket window

* 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Chase Hasty, illusionist

* 7-8:30 p.m.: Juke Joint Cruisers rockabilly band

* 9-10 p.m.: Clay Gooney and Eric DeLeon, comedians

* 10:30-11:30 p.m.: Chase Hasty, illusionist

Memorial United Methodist Church:

* 4-6 p.m.: Kids face painting, temporary tattoos, dress-up, youth center (upstairs)

* 5:30-6:30 p.m.: Cooking class, fellowship room (RSVP to above email)

* 7-10 p.m.: Orange Bowl broadcast, fellowship room

* 10:30-11:30 p.m.: Cooking class, fellowship room (RSVP to above email)

McCook Art Guild:

* 7 p.m. to midnight, or until supplies run out: Mardi Gras masks