Philip Goguen
Everyone knows the risks of drunk driving. It slows down your reaction times, impairs your ability to make sensible decisions, and generally makes you a much worse driver, raising your risk of having a terrible accident. However, even with this knowledge, many people still make the mistake of getting behind the wheel and taking to the roads after having a few drinks.
People can do this for a range of different reasons, and even those who are usually sensible and law-abiding citizens can make this mistake. They might simply feel that it’s not too dangerous to drive after just one drink, for example, or they may experience peer pressure and drink more than they planned while out with friends or work colleagues.
Some people can try to make excuses or come up with reasons to explain the fact that they drove while drunk, but the simple fact of the matter is that there’s never a good reason to get behind the wheel when you aren’t fully in control of your body and your senses. This kind of behavior can lead to terrible consequences, with over 25 people dying in drunk-driving accidents daily.
Even if you’re the sort of person who feels that they would never make such a mistake, life can be unpredictable at times and could put you in situations that you might not have been expecting, so it’s always important to be proactive and look for ways to keep yourself safe. With this in mind, here are some tips to prevent yourself from becoming a drunk driver and contributing to the crisis.
Understand the Risks
A good way to stop yourself from doing anything in life is to know and understand the risks and dangers that might come along with that action or kind of behavior. For drunk-driving, it’s easy to understand the risks, and you can find all kinds of online resources and statistics that show you just how dangerous it can be to drive after even one alcoholic drink, let alone several.
Carry out an online research to find out more on the matter and inform yourself on how many accidents occur, how many people get injured, and what kinds of punishments can be served out to those who commit this crime. Remember that getting a DUI can lead to jail time, suspension of your license, and even loss of your vehicle, as states by Dmcantor.com.
Know Your Limits
As well as understanding the risks of drunk-driving, it’s also important to understand your own body’s limits and capacities when it comes to alcohol too. Each state has its own guidelines regarding how high the blood-alcohol level needs to be when qualifying a DUI, and so on, but the truth is that some people can be much more sensitive to alcohol than others, so your own limits might be even lower than the guidelines for your state.
Most people who have consumed alcohol in the past should be able to know their bodies‘ limits. You should know, for example, how your body tends to respond after a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, and you should know how your reactions and mental state can be altered by alcohol. This will help you avoid going beyond your own limits and consuming too much.
Don’t Overestimate Yourself
Following on from the previous point, it’s important to be aware of your body’s limits, but it’s equally important to be realistic in your assessment and not overestimate your abilities to process and deal with alcohol. Some people make the mistake of thinking that they can handle more drinks than they truthfully can or feel that certain types of liquor aren’t as effective on them.
The truth of the matter is that alcohol affects everyone, and even if you consider yourself to be someone who can have a few drinks without feeling any noticeable effects, the situation might be very different if you get behind the wheel and have to react quickly to an unexpected hazard, like a pedestrian stepping out in front of you or the car ahead stopping suddenly.
Have a Designated Driver
A popular method used by groups of friends, families, and work colleagues who go out to bars, restaurants, or parties together is to have a designated driver. This method is strongly recommended in situations where you and your friends plan to consume alcohol and don’t want to worry about any risks or dangers on the way home.
The designated driver of your group will be the person responsible for getting everyone home safely later on. They’ll promise to not consume any alcohol during the course of the night, keeping a clear head and avoiding any possible dangers. If you are the designated driver for your group, make sure to properly accept this responsibility and avoid all alcoholic drinks.
Find Another Way
Some people who get caught and charged with a DUI try to defend themselves by saying they had no other way to get home, but the fact is that drunk-driving is always a choice and there are always other options available to you. Those options might seem inconvenient at the time, but they always exist and are always better than getting behind the wheel yourself.
You might consider, for example, making use of a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get yourself home safely, or calling a taxi. If you’re in a city location, there will typically be buses and subways to help you get around too, or you can call a friend or family member and ask them to pick you up. If you really can’t find any mode of transport, there’s always the option of waiting, drinking water, and letting your body process the alcohol out of your system, although this may take several hours.
Final Word
Drunk drivers are one of the biggest dangers on today’s roads, and if you’d prefer to be a part of the solution, rather than a part of the problem, then be sure to keep these tips in mind.
