DON'T DRINK & DRIVE

Holiday gatherings, dark days, bad roads, drinks, and driving are a dangerous mix all too common this time of year. The time for merry-making is here. With that, many of us will be going to parties, to have fun and have alcoholic drinks. When the party ends, the question is, are you driving home? Many people risk their lives by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. And often, it turns bad.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the highest cases of DUI’s happen on weekends. In addition, about 10,874 people died in drunk driving accidents in 2017; that’s approximately 29 people each day. Sixty-seven percent of drivers involved in these accidents have an illegal blood alcohol concentration of 0.15.

Statistics show that most alcohol-impaired drivers are between the age 21-34. Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) .08 or higher have the highest number of casualties. Thankfully, we all have the resources to avoid accidents from happening.

How much is enough?

When it comes to alcoholic beverages, we can get carried away drinking more than we should because of the relaxing effect it gives us. Always remember: when you’re driving, DO NOT DRINK or get intoxicated with drugs. Based on these charts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, BAC lower than .05 is within an allowable range; however, BAC higher than .08 is illegal. Refer to images below (Note: One (1) serving is equivalent to 1.5 oz 80 proof liquor or, 12 oz of beer 4.5 % alcohol or 5 oz of wine 12% alcohol ).

If you exceed the BAC limit, DO NOT DRIVE. You may get yourself into an accident and hurt others or get arrested and lose your license. When you plan to drink, make sure you have a designated driver who is not drinking to drive you home. If your driver ends up drinking and no one can drive your car, have a back-up plan. Call a friend or cab or consider staying in a hotel or a friends house for the night versus driving home and avoid getting arrested or hurting yourself and others in an accident.

If you plan on hosting a party, consider the possibilities of accidents on the road. Serve a variety of beverages such as soda, juices, or water. Never pressure anyone to drink alcohol. Finally, if one of your guests is drunk; be kind enough to get him or her a ride home or let them sleep it off on your couch. Be safe, take these precautions to avoid losing any of our loved ones.

Source: sunshineclinic.org