This time of year brings family, friends, and festivities throughout all of December. As everyone gets into the spirit of the season, parties are thrown in it’s honor much more often than any other month. Folks travel from all around the country to be with loved ones, catch up on the new, and reminisce on the old. Good food is easy to come by and good drinks are even easier. Unfortunately, more often than not the spirit (and spirits!) tend to get the best of us. There is nothing wrong with celebrating, of course, but as “one drink” gives way to “one more” a slippery slope of danger appears. The tale of drunk driving cannot be told in statistics, as there is much more to each tragedy; but the numbers do not lie. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in 2013, 10,076 people were killed in accidents attributed to alcohol. This is one-third of the total accident related fatalities. Here are some easy ways to ensure that you and your loved ones do not have to mourn an auto-related tragedy amid the holiday bliss:
Plan Ahead
An often-used excuse for getting behind a wheel when one has no business operating a car is that they did not have a Plan B. Simply put, most people do not plan to drive home drunk. It happens when they just did not plan at all. Assuming that “one drink” truly means “one drink” is inconsistent with the science of alcohol. Alcohol inhibits the brain in a manner that alleviates inhibitions and causes one to act less responsibly than they typically would. If there is alcohol and you expect to have a drink, come prepared with a backup travel plan.
Be a Good Host
If you are expecting to hold a holiday party at your home do not assume your guests will heed the above advice. You should have a plan for intoxicated guests as well. Perhaps have a designated driver or at least the number of a taxi service nearby. Remember that taking the car keys of your guests doesn’t hurt, either. Even a sleeping bag or an open guest room might mean the difference between life and death.
Check Yourself
There are plenty of tools available to measure your own blood alcohol content before getting into a car. It might seem like a silly step but it is surely wiser to test yourself before an officer of the law is able to.
Reach Out to a Southern Minnesota DWI Lawyer for Help
Despite the fact that the law does not permit Minnesota officers to set up sobriety checkpoints, officers are constantly on the lookout for drunk drivers. The risk is simply not worth the reward. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence contact Mankato DWI attorneys at Kohlmeyer Hagen Law Office today.