Be safe and drive sober

In the next couple of weeks, readers could be going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house or someone close to spend the holidays in fellowship and good cheer. Regardless of the destination or the occasion, the Missouri Highway Patrol and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) remind drivers to be safe and practice good driving habits, including buckling up and avoiding drinking and driving.

According to NHTSA, December can be especially dangerous for people on the roads. Between the 2017 and 2021 December months, over 4,500 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In just December 2021 alone, 1,013 people died in alcohol-related crashes.

The holidays are a time for parties and festivities celebrating the season. While this brings out good cheer, it sadly brings out more drunk drivers, too.

“Drunk driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal,” said Regional Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “Drivers have a choice to make: Follow the law and respect their fellow drivers by refraining from driving drunk or make the life-ruining choice to drive drunk, put others at risk, and risk your own mortality and wellbeing.”

Suppose readers are attending an event and drinking. In that case, the NHTSA and Missouri Highway Patrol encourage to have a sober driver plan.

“Drunk driving is not an acceptable behavior,” said DeCourcy. “It is essential to plan a sober ride home before you ever leave for the party. With so many resources available to get home safely, there are just no excuses for drunk driving.”

Regardless of age, experience, or drinking tolerance, no one is immune to the effects of drunk or buzzed driving. If readers find themselves drunk and stranded with their vehicle, they need to give their keys to a sober driver who can safely drive them home.

Remind friends to never get in the vehicle with a drunk driver. If readers see a friend who is about to drive drunk, be the designated driver, take away their keys, and help them get home safely.

Don’t worry about offending or upsetting people by doing these things. They’ll thank you later.

Always have a plan before heading out for the evening. If readers wait until after drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, they will already be too impaired to make the right choices.

There are many options to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rider service such as Uber or Lyft. Also, if you see a drunk driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact your local law enforcement.

Remember that a few dollars spent for a ride home is cheaper than a DUI, which can cost up to $10,000.

Is it more embarrassing to drunkenly ask for a sober ride home or spend the night in jail, have your car impounded, possibly lose your job, or even worse, lose your life or know you took the lives of others?

Make good choices and drive sober this holiday season.