There are more than enough public warnings and advertisements about driving while drunk during the holiday season. It’s just not something that is worth risking. But all too often the high rate of drunk driving during the holidays doesn’t just impact the person behind the wheel.
Innocent people are seriously injured or killed at the hands of a reckless person who had too much to drink at a holiday party or decided to drive despite being under the influence.
This recent news story angers me. It angers me because we, as attorneys, are supposed to uphold the law - that is the oath that we took and should abide by. That law clearly states that drunk driving is illegal, but more than that, it’s deadly. In this case, no innocent people were harmed, but they could have been -- and for what? To avoid paying for a taxi or waiting for an Uber?
I can’t begin to understand why people choose to drive after drinking, but what bothers me, even more, is that these people are also choosing to play Russian Roulette with your life.
Some ways that you can help limit the number of drunk drivers out there include:
- Acting as a designated driver (one less person on the road driving drunk!
- Using larger highways
- Do not use small or rural roads (drunk drivers often try to avoid police this way
- Try not to travel at night on Fridays or Saturdays
- Stay home on New Year’s Eve
- Always wear your seat belt
- Never get into a car with someone that has been drinking
- Be area of any driver that is swerving or making wide turns
- Put distance between yourself and any driver appearing impaired
- Call the police if you suspect someone of drunk driving
- Stay alert!
Make sure your kids know about these guidelines too. Be careful out there this holiday season. Be careful not to drink and drive, but also be careful of those people on the road that are playing a careless game with your life and with the lives of those you love.
