New Year’s Eve Safe Driving Tips
December 30th, 2015 by Eli P
New Year’s Eve is one of the most festive holidays of the year. It’s also a time when millions of people consume more alcohol than usual, making it unsafe to be on the roads. Fortunately there are many things you can do to ensure a safe return home after the evening’s festivities.
Assign a designated driver.
If you go out with a group of friends or family, assign one person as the sober designated driver. Make sure you can rely upon this person to abstain from drinking throughout the evening and uphold their responsibility. In some areas, organizations like AAA offer free designated driver programs.
Hire a pro to drive you home.
If you don’t have a designated driver, hire a taxi or a nontraditional driving service such as Uber or Lyft. If you have the budget to go in style, considering hiring a professional limousine.
Plan to stay overnight.
Often, the best safe driving strategy for New Year’s Eve is not to drive home at all. If you over-imbibe at a friend’s house, ask if you can sleep it off and drive home sober in the morning. If you’re at a restaurant or nightclub, book a hotel room so you can walk to your final destination for the evening.
Report drunk driving.
If you see someone driving erratically or weaving all over the road, call 911 immediately, even if you are not endangered.
Take the keys.
If you’re the host of a party, or even a guest, and you see someone getting ready to drive home in a state of intoxication, ask for their keys in return for providing them a safe trip home. This could mean calling a cab or letting them stay in your home. Whichever option you choose, the #1 priority is keeping drunk drivers off the road, even if it’s your friends or family.
Don’t ride with a drunk driver.
If you think someone shouldn’t be driving, don’t get in the car with them, even if it’s a friend or family member. Instead, try to talk them out of driving and make other arrangements for a safe return home.
Related articles
