This past Memorial Day Weekend, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that state police arrested almost 240 people for drunk driving and issued 12,169 tickets for a variety of violations and between May 26 and May 29. State Police Superintendent George Beach says the results of this weekend show the need for stronger enforcement to remove reckless people from roadways. During last year’s campaign, state police made 225 drunken driving arrests and issued nearly 12,000 tickets for a variety of other violations.

These figures are far too high and show that, despite all the statistics and warnings, people still drink and drive, which puts both their own lives and everyone else on the road’s lives at risk. The numbers from last year also have not decreased, showing that this is a prolonged problem.

Everyone enjoys a good trip out to the Jersey Shore for the beaches or to Long Island for winery tours during the summer months, but getting there often poses a problem if you want to drink, since driving is the most popular way of getting to and from. However, this shouldn’t stop you from having fun and playing it safe, since there are a number of precautions you can take.

This summer, be sure to always have a designated driver or taxi service to get you where you need to go if you plan on drinking. These days, there are a number of car services, from local cabs to services like Uber and Lyft, that can efficiently and affordably drive you if you ever need.