Atlanta Police PSA: Be Safe This New Year's

ATLANTA, GA -- New Year's Day for many metro Atlantans is a time to have some fun and relax. But there are also some hazards associated with the holiday that we all need to be aware of.

Many people will be shooting guns in celebration as part of the new year. The safe use of fireworks also will be a concern for residents. Additionally, there will also be thousands of people in downtown Atlanta for the annual Peach Drop, and residents will need to act responsibly.

To that end, a couple of Atlanta police officers have shared some tips on staying safe for the New Year's holiday. In a video uploaded to Twitter, the APD list a number of ways Atlantans can enjoy the holiday without repercussions:

* Slow down: Atlanta police said that motorists tend to push the gas pedal during the holidays. Safe driving is a necessity.

* Do not text and drive: Drivers should have their eyes focused on the road, not an electronic device, the officers said.

* Don't shoot your firearm in the air: There's a simple law of physics that we all need to be aware of: What comes up must come down, one of the officers points out.

* Do not drink and drive: Had a few to drink? No problem. Thinking about getting behind the wheel? Think again. Alcohol-related traffic accidents spike during the holidays. Hand over the keys, the officers said.

* Give 911 dispatchers enough info: When calling in an emergency, the last thing you want to do is not provide enough details for public safety officers to respond. Be precise when calling 911, the officers urged.

State highway officials are hoping that statistics show that 2016 was a safer year. Looking at the state as a whole, road fatalities rose sharply in 2015, reaching 1432 deaths. In 2014, fatalities totaled 1170.

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