Everyone knows the damage drinking and driving can do and the life-altering impact it can have on your own future. While it unfortunately happens quite frequently, it shouldn’t and doesn’t have to. By taking the appropriate measures to begin with, you can easily avoid being involved with the issue of drinking and driving when you’re at the bars or at a party. Here are some tips to help you and anyone else on the roads safe from drunk driving.
Don’t drive
It’s as simple as just not driving. If you don’t want to get yourself into a situation where you could end up drinking and driving, leave your car at home and take a cab to wherever you’re going. This is ultimately the best way to avoid any possibility of you being involved with drinking and driving.
Drink moderately
If you’re going out for a drink and you drive there, be smart and drink moderately. By doing this, you have to commit to yourself that you’re only going to have one to two drinks at the very most. Anything beyond that can result in a dangerous situation and will leave you not only putting your own life at risk on the roads, but the lives of others as well.
Learn to intervene
If you’re mature and responsible enough to know that you would never drink and drive, that doesn’t mean your friends are. If you notice a friend or family member who may drive drunk, create a strategy to stop them. You could do this by taking their keys or even by offering them a free ride home.
Use a negative reinforcement technique
In the perfect world, no one would drink and drive. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and people drink and drive every day, despite the repercussions. If your friend refuses your offer for a free ride home and your intervention fails, don’t be afraid to throw the scare tactic card on the table. Whether you need to remind them of how many police officers are out or the accident that just happened recently due to drinking and driving, this is a way to get into their head to really drive the fact that drinking and driving is extremely dangerous.
Stay at the hotel or venue where the party is held
Say your office holiday party or fundraising event is a far drive and too expensive for a cab ride. Instead of the risk of driving drunk, look into hotel accommodations nearby the event venue. This is a great option to consider and will give you the freedom to fully enjoy yourself without having to be concerned with how you’re getting home later that evening.
Bring a designated driver
If you don’t want to be the designated driver, find someone who is willing to do it. This is not an easy job though, so don’t encourage whoever the designated driver is to have a drink or two before he or she drives you home.
Regardless of how you choose to avoid drinking and driving, make sure that you do. Not only can drinking and driving ruin your life, but your poor decision could destroy the lives of others as well. Be smart and be safe, and think before you drink.
Jessica Tanning is a freelance writer and supports efforts to end drinking and driving. With a family member who has been treated for substance abuse at Delray Recovery Center for many years, she understands how important it is to make others aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.