Drunk driving is both dangerous and, let's be honest, not smart at all. Regardless of where you're going or coming from, driving under the influence of alcohol puts you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road at risk.

What Are the Dangers Associated with Drunk Driving?

Drunk driving results in thousands of deaths every year in the U.S. The long-term consequences of getting caught driving drunk can also be life-changing — and not in a good way. A driving under the influence (DUI) conviction typically results in some or all of the following consequences:

• Loss of your driver’s license. Depending on the state, a first DUI conviction can cause your license to be revoked for one to two years.
• Financial penalties. In addition to a fine for drunk driving, you also get the "privilege" of paying court costs, lawyer fees, and the cost of court-ordered alcohol counseling and rehab programs. So, if you drive drunk, you should expect to say goodbye to thousands of your hard-earned dollars.
• Current employment issues. Jail time, court dates, attending alcohol awareness programs, and performing community service can all interfere with your job. Most employers don't take it well when you miss working for these reasons.
• Future employment. Increasingly, today's employers perform detailed background checks before hiring new employees. A felony or even a misdemeanor DUI could prevent you from getting the job of your choice.
• Higher insurance rates. Don't be surprised if your insurance carrier doubles or triples your rates after a DUI — assuming your carrier doesn't cancel your coverage altogether.
• Personal reputation. A DUI may change the way that family members, friends, employers, and others in your community look at

As the aforementioned list shows, the consequences of drunk driving can be severe. But, if you know how to prevent drunk driving, you can stop drunk driving accidents before they occur — and prevent fatalities, injuries, and other problems associated with these accidents.

How To Get Home Safely After Drinking 

If you're drunk and need a ride home, you should never get behind the wheel of a car. In fact, many safe, reliable alternatives to avoid driving drunk are available. The key is to plan ahead, so if you plan to consume alcohol, you won't have to wrestle with the decision to drive or not drive if your judgment gets impaired by alcohol. Some of the top alternatives to drinking and driving include:

• Appoint a designated driver. Have one person commit to not drinking or arrange for someone else to pick you up any time you plan to drink at a restaurant, bar, or anywhere else outside your home.
• Use public transportation. Public transportation — such as buses, subways, and rail systems — offers an old-fashioned but effective alternative to drunk driving. When using public transit, always check their schedules in advance to ensure that they will be running at the time you plan to return home.
• Use a rideshare. Ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber are safe and easy to use, and they usually cost less than taxis. If you use a rideshare, you may have to share a ride with someone you don't know — but that's a small price to pay to avoid a drunken driving arrest or prevent a fatal car accident. 

Along with these tips, you need to know how to stop family members and friends from driving drunk. That way, you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and others safe against drunk driving accidents and related problems.

How to Prevent Family Members and Friends from Driving Drunk

In the event that a family member or friend wants to drive drunk, there are several things you can do to prevent him or her from driving home, such as:

• Take their keys. Ask a family member or friend to give you their keys before they start drinking. Then, if a family member or friend gets intoxicated and wants to drive home, he or she will be unable to do so until their condition improves.
• Contact a taxi or rideshare. Reach out to a taxi or rideshare on behalf of a family member or friend. This ensures that a family member or friend has a safe way to travel home if he or she gets intoxicated.
• Offer a ride home. Provide an intoxicated family member or friend with a ride home. This should only be done if you have not been drinking and feel like you can help your family member or friend get home safely.
• Ask loved ones for assistance. Contact loved ones to find out if they can give an intoxicated family member or friend a ride home. If you have also been drinking, a loved one may be able to provide both you and your family member or friend with a ride home.

When it comes to preventing family members and friends from driving drunk, it is always better to err on the side of caution. In doing so, you can keep your family members and friends safe. You can also prevent drunk driving accidents that can cause major issues for all parties involved.

Solutions to Stop Drinking and Driving

One of the best solutions to stop drinking and driving is to avoid drinking any time you or someone you know may need to get behind the wheel. Remember, alcohol impacts the brain function, and it can result in slowed thinking and make it difficult to concentrate. At the same time, alcohol can impair your vision and affect your coordination. And in the long run, alcohol can cause heart, liver, and pancreas issues that increase your risk of various chronic medical problems. Additionally, it often helps to share the dangers of drunk driving with family members, friends, and others. Drunk driving is a national problem, but drivers may try to ignore the symptoms of drinking too much alcohol, which can lead to car accidents, fatalities, and injuries. Yet, people who know the dangers associated with drunk driving are well-equipped to do their part to stop drinking and driving. The result: these people can help put drunk driving in the past and make the roads safer than ever before for motorists, passengers, and bystanders. With so many drunk driving solutions, there is no excuse for putting yourself and everyone else on the road at risk by driving while intoxicated. If you're thinking about getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, we urge you to choose an alternative means of transportation to safely get home.   This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Carlsbad Village a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the northern coastal communities in San Diego.