(757) 333-3333Hosting a Holiday Party? Take These Precautions to Prevent Drunk Driving
It’s great to be with family and friends over the holidays but Christmas and New Year are times when the number of wrecks caused by drunk driving spikes.
The combination of parties and driving long distances to see relatives over the holidays makes this a particularly dangerous time of the year. There are also more holiday shoppers on the roads.
You should be aware that agencies such as Virginia State Police step up their enforcement effort over the holidays.
You may encounter sobriety checkpoints when you are returning from a holiday party and police will be looking out for impaired drivers, reports the News Virginian.
Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent, stated in a press release.
“The fact that alcohol-related deaths and injuries on Virginia’s highways are decreasing is encouraging, but we still need all drivers to get the message. You could kill yourself or someone else, or get a DUI and go to jail. We need every driver to make smart, safe and sober decisions.”
If you are hosting a party over the holidays, you should not overlook the safety aspects.
Holiday parties frequently involve alcohol. You want your guests to have a good time, but it’s also important to make sure they are responsible. You should keep an eye out for anyone who has consumed too much alcohol and provide a place to stay or a means to return home with a designated driver. Here are a few things you can do to prevent holiday drinking and driving.
1 Make sure to have a designated driver.
It sounds simple but many party hosts don’t think to make sure there is a designated driver for guests. It goes without saying that the designated driver should not be consuming alcohol.
2 Have numbers of taxi companies available
Make sure you know the numbers of taxi companies and call them up for guests who may be impaired. That also applies to contacts for online services like Uber or Lyft.
3 Offer food if you are offering alcohol
People may moderate their alcohol intake if they are eating and may not become so impaired. However, you should avoid drinking any alcohol if you are driving.
4 Have non-alcoholic drinks available
Make sure people who should not be drinking alcohol have an alternative.
5 Be prepared to be tough
If someone who is impaired insists on driving be tough. Offer an alternative but warn them there will be consequences like you calling the police if they insist on driving.
Every year lives are lost in Hampton Roads and further afield due to drunk driving. Don’t gamble with your life and the lives of others. If you have been hurt by a drunk driver, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at (757) 333-3333.
