You’d never get behind the wheel while intoxicated. What more can you do to keep the roads safe from drunk drivers?
Plenty — particularly around the holiday season.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, drunk driving surges every holiday season. Every year, roughly 300 people lose their lives in drunk driving crashes between Christmas and New Year’s — and many more are injured. The fact that this keeps happening is a sure sign that more needs to be done to prevent drunk drivers from ending up on the road.
Ways you can combat drunk driving on your own
If you want to make more of a difference this holiday season, here’s what you can do:
- Be a designated driver: Let your friends and relatives know that they can call you — day or night — for a lift home if they’re stuck somewhere and have been drinking.
- Buy gift cards for Uber or Lyft: A $25 gift card can save the life of someone you know, so don’t hesitate to tuck a few in some stockings.
- Don’t overserve: If you’re holding a party or hosting the holiday dinner, watch how heavily your guest indulge in the mulled wine or spiked eggnog. Cut them off, when necessary.
- Make room for overnight guests: If a dinner guest does get inebriated, figure out a way to accommodate them for the night so they won’t even be tempted to head home.
- Report suspected drunk drivers: If you’re on the road and you see a car weaving, stopping irregularly, going the wrong way or doing anything else that makes you suspect that the driver is impaired, call 911 and report it. That can help prevent wrecks.
Drunk driving has the potential to affect everyone. If you’re injured in a wreck with an intoxicated driver, an experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you need for your losses.
