As someone who does DUI defense regularly, consider this your PSA for the 4th of July Holiday: PLEASE DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. Although it may be good for my business, it isn't safe and the potential fatal ramifications are enormous.

According to an esurance blog post by Ellen Hall, between the years 2007 and 2011, nearly 40% of highway deaths over the 4th of July weekend were “caused by drunk driving.” According to this post by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “during the 2015 Fourth of July Holiday, 146 people were killed in drunk driving crashes. Nearly two-thirds of those killed were in crashes where at least one driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher – almost twice the legal limit.”

This year is a little different because the 4th of July is on a Wednesday so there is no traditional “weekend” in play. That shouldn't matter to you, though. If you are drinking and celebrating the 4th of July, please don't get behind the wheel and drive. Make a plan beforehand because, as you well know, critical decision-making, like “should I drive,” after consuming alcohol is a terrible idea.

Walk to where you are going. Ride your bike. Have a designated driver (a true one, not one who promises to drink less). Use Uber or Lyft or another ride-share service. Take a cab. Just don't get behind the wheel after drinking. It's not worth the potential downside of killing yourself or someone else.