As many are celebrating the 4th of July holiday today, Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla lays out key points to remain safe over the weekend.

Dinkla tells Raccoon Valley Radio that law enforcement will be on the lookout for people driving while intoxicated and using their cell phones. He emphasizes that with the new Hands Free law that began this past Tuesday, Dinkla reminds people that phones can be operated through Bluetooth, but suggests to not even hold it in your hand and encourages people to disable notifications, so they’re not tempted to look at it. He reveals that the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is partnering with Doll Distributing Beverage Company to offer a $10 Uber Voucher to get home safely, but Dinkla names a free way to do it.

“Don’t be afraid to phone a friend. If you’ve had too much to drink or you’ve had just a little bit to drink, and you don’t know if you’re actually over the .08 (blood alcohol level) law, we want to make sure you’re safe, because we always say buzzed driving is the same as drunk driving. If you think you’ve had just a little bit too much to drink, maybe you’re buzzed, get somebody safe to get you home, we don’t want you to be involved in a crash and have to deal with the loss of life that you may have to deal with for the rest of your life, but we don’t want you to have the cost of what it cost to get an OWI.”

Dinkla acknowledges that the July 4th holiday is amongst the deadliest in the United States, as over the past three years, there have been 24 traffic-related casualties, with eight of them caused by alcohol. He’s hoping that everyone stays safe, and takes these recommendations seriously.