The holiday season is upon us, which means more sweet treats, more festive gifts, and unfortunately, more people driving drunk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates a person died in a drunk driving crash every 39 minutes in 2021. That’s 13,384 people who aren’t going to celebrate with their families this holiday season, just because they or someone else on the road made a bad choice with alcohol.
Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving
It’s common to indulge a little more than you normally would during the holiday season. There are festive dinners and parties and everyone is feeling celebratory. And that’s fine! It’s certainly not against to law to hit the holiday cheer. The problem arises when you combine it with driving.
In most states, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher will earn you a DUI. But just because you aren’t legally drunk doesn’t mean your driving is safe. Any amount of alcohol can affect your driving ability. The NHTSA estimates that in 2021, 2,226 people died in crashes where the driver had a BAC between .01 and .07. Being “legally sober” didn’t stop these drivers from dying. Driving after drinking any amount of alcohol just isn’t a good idea.
Have a Plan
So what should you do if you’re going to be partying this winter? Have a plan! And make sure you stick to that plan, even when you’ve had a few glasses of an adult beverage. Here are some safe ways to get home after a night of revelry:
Take a rideshare or taxi, but don’t just take one home. If you drive to the venue, you’ll be tempted to drive home so your vehicle isn’t stranded the next day. If you’re going to Lyft, Uber, or taxi home, do the same to the party.
Use public transportation. A train or bus ride is a lovely way to make sure you have time to drink some water and sober up a little before going to sleep. You’ll thank yourself in the morning!
Ride with a designated driver. And choose someone you know is going to stick to mocktails! If you notice your DD drinking alcohol, even if they’re “just having one and it’ll be fine,” make a new plan.
Make a Plan for Your Friends, Too
Not everyone is as responsible as you are, so if you’re going to a party or event with pals, make sure they have a plan to get home safely as well. Split a cab, team up and alternate being the DD, or have fun riding the bus as a group.
Office holiday parties are a place where people often overindulge. If you’re having a holiday party at work that includes alcohol, consider talking to the organizer about how to get your co-workers home safely afterward. For whatever reason, people sometimes get more intoxicated than they mean to at office holiday parties. Maybe it’s the free drinks or maybe it’s nerves about socializing with the boss, but whatever is causing it, the last thing you want is for someone to get in a crash on the way home (the embarrassing videos should be punishment enough).
Consider including a free rideshare as part of the cost of the party, so that nobody has to worry about babysitting co-workers that hit the nog a little too hard. Some pre-planning will ensure nobody’s wrestling keys away from an overserved accountant at the end of the night.
Be Careful on the Road
Even if you’re completely sober, holiday drunk drivers pose a threat to you on the road. You can absolutely be injured or killed in a crash caused by an alcohol-impaired driver. The holidays are a dangerous time to drive, especially at night, for this very reason. The fact that more people are driving at night than usual, people who don’t often drive at night are on the road, and the roads are more likely to icy in the winter only make matters worse.
There’s no way to protect yourself completely from a crash, but driving defensively is a good way to increase your chances of getting where you’re going safely. If you haven’t had any driver’s education in a while, consider taking a defensive driving course to brush up on your skills. It might just earn you an insurance discount, too.
Have Happy Holidays
This winter, ensure you have safe and happy holidays by not driving after drinking alcohol. There are so many ways to responsibly enjoy a holiday party that there’s no excuse not to limit your risky behavior to wearing an extremely ugly sweater or giving your boss a risque secret santa gift. Or, you know, dancing. In public. With your co-workers. Shudder.
Updated 12/1/23
