It’s holiday time again, and time for the annual reminders about staying sober behind the wheel. Many people are out enjoying family and friends over the holidays, and for many this involves drinking alcohol. But with drunk driving accidents killing scores of people over the holidays, it’s more important now than ever to stress the need for a designated driver.
The Texas Department of Transportation is urging people to “Give the Gift that Keeps One Living” in their annual Holiday P.A.S.S. (person appointed to stay sober) campaign. They suggest that you be the designated driver and, if you are hosting, you should offer at least one non-alcoholic beverage option for your guests.
According to a press release on the TxDOT website, there were nearly 2,500 alcohol-related accidents over the holiday period last year. In the month of December through January 1, 2011, 842 of these accidents involved serious injuries, and 78 of them involved fatalities. Every one of these might have been avoided if someone had stopped the intoxicated driver from getting on the road.
There are several ways you can help cut down on drunk driving, the first of which is by not getting behind the wheel after drinking. Start with yourself. If you have been drinking, call a cab or just stay put. If you plan on drinking, plan for transportation home ahead of time. Don’t be a drunk driver.
If you are hosting a party, ask your guests what their transportation plans are when they arrive. Keep taxi numbers handy or offer rides home as the night wears on. Make sure everyone has a plan to get home safely and that no one is planning on getting behind the wheel after too many holiday drinks.
Offer (and drink) non-alcoholic cocktails. There are countless tasty cocktails that don’t include liquor, and, yes, you can have a good time at a party without getting intoxicated.
In conjunction with the PASS program, the Texas Hospitality Association is handing out sober driver “gift certificates” and other helpful tools at stores across the state. Take advantage of the services offered to help reduce the risk of drunk driving accidents.
As a Houston car accident attorney, I’ve represented many DUI accident victims—people who were seriously injured by drunk drivers. If you’re involved in an accident and the other person has been drinking, I may be able to help. Contact my offices today for a free consultation.
