New Year’s Day is almost here, which means parties and fun with friends and family as the calendar turns to 2015. There is plenty to celebrate, especially in Selma where 2015 may be one of the biggest years the city has experienced.

With all of the celebrating going on, it’s easy to make a bad decision or two on New Year’s Eve. Every day in America, 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Every two minutes a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.

Those numbers are undoubtedly higher during the New Year’s festivities.

Drunk driving is always a big no-no, but around the holidays it can be put a lot of people in danger. A driving under the influence charge not only means some time behind bars, but it could also change your life substantially.

That’s why it’s important to make a plan. If you or your friends are going to drink, pick a designated driver well in advance.

There are other dangers associated with the new year as well. Many in our city like to illegally shoot their guns up into the air in celebration, which is just careless. Physics tells us that what goes up, must come down — meaning those bullets could strike a person, a car or a house.  The point is, they will land somewhere and if they land in the wrong place, it could end someone’s life.

The new year is supposed to be about reflecting on all that was accomplished the previous 12 months and look forward to what lies ahead. Let’s keep the focus on that.