By MARGO HORNER, The Mirror

Champagne and cocktails will be flowing throughout Federal Way on New Year’s Eve, and emergency responders are reminding folks to be safe driving.

“Always this time of year, we want people to stay safe with driving and drinking and wearing seatbelts, and just making sure we’re starting the new year off on the right foot,” said South King Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Kendra Kay.

“We know the extra celebrations going on… people tend to, you know, celebrate a little bit more and we just want people to be careful,” Kay said. “Just a friendly reminder.”

More people will die in alcohol-related crashes throughout the country on New Year’s Eve than on any other mid-week winter evening, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics.

More people have been killed in alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions than in all wars the United States has been involved in, said South King Fire and Rescue firefighter Anthony John.

The most dangerous times to be on the road are between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., where statistics show one in seven drivers are legally intoxicated. Those numbers could be higher on New Year’s Eve.

In Federal Way, some of the roads that more frequently become the scene of serious collisions are Dash Point Road, Military Road and Interstate 5, John said. If a person plans to drink, John recommends they practice moderation, find a gathering from which they can walk home, or call a cab. The price of cab fare is low compared to the price of a DUI conviction, he said.

“It’s a drop in the bucket compared to what can happen if you decide to drink and drive,” he said.

It is always a good idea to drink water in between alcoholic beverages and eat a substantial meal before indulging, John said. But none of those things will guarantee a person will be safe to drive.

“It will help,” he said. “But there’s no magical pill that you can take or do if you’re drunk that’s going to make it go away any faster.”

Only time will reduce drunkenness, John said. A person who feels even mildly tipsy should wait at least four hours before operating a motor vehicle.

Contact Margo Horner: mhorner@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.