Sometimes a simple mistake can lead to tragic consequences. That one extra sip of alcohol could put you over the limit making you incapable to drive. The best choice you can make yourself and others is to not take any risks. Always choose the safe route.
During a night out with friends, at a celebration, or with family, it is easy to forget about safety first. There is the potential of you making risky choices that put yourself and your loved ones in danger. Don’t let this happen to you. There are very simple ways to prevent a DUI. Sometimes the hardest part is choosing to take the safer route. Here are some tips:
Keep the number of a taxi in your phone.
Having the number for a cab handy is going to be so helpful when all you want to do is get home. Hailing a taxi can be a pain. Furthermore, searching for a phone number for a taxi might dissuade you from actually riding in one.
Check Your Membership Services.
If you are a member of AAA, you may be eligible to have a car service or a driver come pick you up and take you home. Some insurance companies offer this service, too. Sobriety drivers are usually offered around notable drinking holidays (i.e. St. Patrick’s Day). Be sure to check with your AAA membership or your insurance company to see if this is available to you.
There are also commercial companies that offer a sober driver to take you home. I would double check on the legitimacy of the company before you head out and decide to call.
Know Your Limits.
A lot of people think they know how much alcohol they can have and still be able to drive. There are even BAC calculators out there that can help you figure this out. However, there are always exceptions to how many drinks you can have and be okay. The important thing to do is listen to your body. If you didn’t eat earlier or are just getting over being sick, you may not be able to drink as much as you normally do and still be able to drive. Be cognizant of this.
Try to Avoid DUI Checkpoints.
This tip is in no way condoning driving drunk or saying, “Hey, you can drive drunk if you avoid DUI checkpoints”. I’m mentioning this because there is the possibility of police being a little too trigger-happy at checkpoints and you possibly getting arrested for something you didn’t do. Above all, you want to avoid getting pulled over altogether, even as a sober driver.
Be Smart.
Sometimes the easiest tip is the hardest one to do. Just use common sense. If you’re the designated driver for the evening, stick to your promise to your friends and stay sober. If you’re drinking, be nice to the designated driver and don’t, for a second, think you can drive home.