Memorial Day weekend is upon us! Are you as excited as us? Memorial Day — of course — “unofficially” ushers in Summer, and the festive holidays we so love.

Not only is Memorial Day associated with honoring those who valiantly served our country, it’s also a weekend associated with parties and barbecues — and, sadly, traffic fatalities. Memorial Day Weekend is typically one of the most dangerous times to be on the road. Every Memorial Day weekend, between 300 and 400 people die in traffic fatalities, while thousands more suffer injuries. Please, don’t be a statistic!

Sparket looks forward to serving you this weekend. But, we want you to stay safe — to get the dispensary in Port Angeles, there’s only one lane going both ways, and many windy roads. Don’t ever — we repeat — don’t ever pass other cars on the road. It’s just not worth it! (And, it should go without saying,  drinking or consuming cannabis don’t mix with driving.)

Avoid Alcohol or Cannabis if Driving

To be safe this Memorial Day weekend, remember: if you’re driving, avoid drinking or consuming cannabis (even in small amounts). While the legal limit for drinking may be .08% BAC, even a small amount of alcohol (or cannabis) can dramatically increase your chances of getting in a bad wreck. Both alcohol and cannabis are known to impair your ability to react to surprises (like someone cutting you off). So even if you think you feel fine, don’t risk it! It’s not just about making sure you don’t get arrested for driving under the influence. It’s about your safety!

Follow These Safety Tips When Driving on Windy or Winding Roads

You’ll encounter winding roads when visiting Sparket. Here are a few practical, common-sense tips:

• Keep your vehicle centered in the lane.
• Scan ahead as far as possible. Be aware of potential hazards.
• Slow down before navigating curves — especially blind curves.
• Slow down and employ extra vigilance when driving in areas with animals, such as deer.
• Use high beams when driving at night.
• Be prepared: make sure your car is in excellent driving condition; inspect brakes, tire pressure, lights, suspension, steering, and fluid levels before your trip.
• Slow down: Make sure to follow advisory speed limit signs. Don’t exceed limits; better yet, driving slower than posted limits.

National Safety Council Driving Tips

“Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer fun for families around the country, but unfortunately, the long holiday weekend will end with death and injury for far too many,” said Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “These tragedies are completely preventable. We issue these estimates to make drivers aware of the risks on the roadways and encourage them to be especially cautious this weekend.”

The National Safety Council provides a number of other tips on how to drive safely this weekend:

• Reduce your speed. More speeding-related fatalities occur during the summer months than any other time of year.
• Refrain from using cell phones or devices – hands-free or handheld – when driving Place children in age-appropriate safety seats
• Designate a sober driver or take alternate transportation if you consume cannabis or alcohol. Do not even get behind the wheel! One drink (or toke) will impair your ability to drive safely.
• Drive defensively and exercise caution.
• Children ages 12 or younger should always be in the back seat.
• Wear a seatbelt. Fortunately, most people wear a seatbelt, but even if you’re a passenger in the backseat, it’s just as important to buckle up!
• Drive slowly and allow plenty of time to get to and from your destination.
• Don’t drive if you’re drowsy! Driving while you’re fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence. Don’t do it!

We want you to enjoy a festive and safe Memorial Day. So please don’t drive if you’ve had anything to drink or smoke. Plan accordingly. And, use a designated driver.

From our family at Sparket, happy Memorial Day weekend!