Always have a game plan to drive sober

Ashley looks forward to meeting her friends at the downtown hotspots for an evening of dancing, schmoozing and a cocktail or two. On this particular Friday night, Ashley is excited about her recent promotion at work and wants to party hard to celebrate. After working her moves on the dance floor, she cozies up to the bar and starts doing vodka shots with her friends. A couple hours later, it’s time to head out. As Ashley gets behind the wheel, she starts feeling dizzy and lightheaded. As her hand approaches the ignition, she stops herself to think, “Am I ok to drive?”

With an ever-increasing amount of things to take our eyes away from safe driving, the last thing we want to do is drink and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving accidents. That’s one person lost to drunk driving every hour! What’s more, when we add prescription and over-the-counter medications to alcohol, the negative results are compounded. Mothers Against Drunk Driving reports that 1 in 4 drivers have tested positive for at least one drug that could affect driving safety.  

“As is the case with traffic accidents and moving violations, if you receive a drunk driving conviction, you may lose your license, be looking at increased auto insurance rates or lose coverage altogether,” said Michael Cole, owner of Cole Consulting Group representing Rockingham Insurance. “The best choice is always the simplest choice: don’t drink and drive – it’s never worth it, for you and others out on the road.”  

Many of us assume we know our limits or have a higher tolerance for alcohol than we actually do. The reality, though, is that even a small amount of alcohol can negatively affect our ability to drive safely. In 2019, there were almost 2,000 people killed in alcohol-related accidents where a driver had a blood-alcohol level of .01 to .07 (the federal legal limit is .08%).

The best advice is to never drink and drive. You can also keep these safety tips in mind to help ensure your safety and the safety of others:

• Have a Game Plan: If you’ll be somewhere and plan to drink alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver, whether that’s a friend, a family member, rideshare, or a taxi. No matter who gives you a ride, make sure that person has not consumed alcohol and will be responsible for your safety
• Keep an eye out on others who may be drinking and prevent them from getting behind the wheel – you can also arrange a ride home for them. 
• Always wear your seat belt

By following a few, simple rules, you can help ensure you and your friends and loved ones can enjoy all that summer has to offer.