Tis the season…Christmas and New Years is a time where many people gather to enjoy the holiday season with their loved ones and friends. Gatherings and celebrations are filled with grand meals complete with turkey and all the fixings, ugly sweater parties, mistletoe, and eggnog.
Unfortunately, this time of year can also be one of the deadliest due to impaired driving. One of the deadliest and most often committed crimes is drunk driving. It is a serious safety epidemic in our country and across the world. During the holiday season, the number of drunk drivers on the road grows rapidly and more fatalities occur during this time. Let’s change that this year.
Here are 5 tips to share with young drivers, family members, and friends before going out to celebrate the holidays:
- Be responsible. If you know that someone is drinking, do not let that person get into a car and drive away.
- Have a designated driver. A good way to figure this out is to decide who’s going to be doing the driving before you go out. Also, make sure that person doesn’t drink any alcoholic beverages.
- Call a taxi or Uber as a backup. Sometimes you cannot rely on all designated drivers.
- Take the keys. You shouldn’t be afraid to take someone’s car keys if you know that they have been drinking and that you are going to save their life.
- If you know that you have had too much to drink, stay put, and sober up.
Do your part this holiday season by staying aware, staying sober, and staying safe. Happy and Safe Holidays to you and yours!