The holidays are the best time to party, relax, and enjoy time with friends and family—which means that there are a lot of people out on the road traveling. According to a Winchester personal injury attorney, police departments across the country step up their “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement around this time of year because of the increased number of families on the road. Although general public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving is at an all-time high, some people continue to drive impaired. According to MADD, "In 2012, 10,322 people died in drunk driving crashes - one every 51 minutes - and 290,000 were injured in drunk driving crashes."
No matter what your plans are this holiday, you’ll want to plan to avoid impaired driving at all costs. When you set a plan in place, it is easy to avoid intoxicated driving and still have a good time with friends and family. Keep reading to learn about the easiest ways to avoid impaired driving this holiday season.
Host a Holiday Sleepover Shindig
This holiday season, consider hosting a sleepover for a small group of friends or family. Everyone can enjoy the night without worrying about how they're getting home. You can throw a holiday-themed party and get a few air mattresses for guests to crash on at the end of the night. Play games, string popcorn and enjoy serving your loved ones a few guilt-free holiday cocktails, safe in the knowledge no one will be driving home impaired. With a special holiday sleepover, the party doesn’t have to stop when the night ends!
Arrange a Designated Driver
When it comes to having a designated driver, plan ahead so no one feels slighted. Don't wait until last call to decide who is least impaired. As a holiday gift, you might offer to be the designated driver for friends or family. This idea costs you almost nothing, yet shows how much you care. Even if you won't be joining them at the party, offer to pick them up when they call.
Hire a Limo
Using this approach, you can feel free to bar hop or hit up multiple parties without racking up on-the-meter taxi fees or worse, driving impaired. This is a popular trend for New Year’s Eve. Christmas parties are often family-oriented, but New Year’s Eve might be your time to go out and party with friends. Class things up with a limo, and your crew will look fresh and stay safe no matter where the night takes you.
Try a Ride-Hailing App
If the budget doesn't allow for a limo, try something new and use a ride-sharing app to order a ride right when you need it. With Uber and Lyft, smartphone apps connect paying riders with drivers. Be aware, these are ride-hailing services, so someone will pick you up in their own car and transport you. These services perform background checks on their drivers, and are sometimes cheaper and faster than a taxi.