With the Holidays come family gatherings, office parties, socializing with friends and seasonal get-togethers. These are occasions we look forward to all year. But there can be a dark side to the holiday cheer: drunk driving and the injuries and deaths that result.
It’s up to each and every one of us to do our part to prevent these tragedies. Remember, everyone has a role to play in keeping drunk drivers off the road.
The driver
No one is more responsible for preventing drunk driving than you, the driver. No excuses! If you drink, you can’t drive.
· Line up a sober driver to take you home if you anticipate drinking alcohol during an evening out.
· Call a cab or a friend you trust to drive you home ones you take in too much alcohol.
· Watch what you drink and eat. Never drink too much too quickly. Put soft drinks into your mix of beverages. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat food at the same time you’re drinking.
· Stay overnight in a nearby hotel or motel, if you’re going to attend a party and you know you want to have more than one or two drinks during the evening. That way you can walk to your hotel room after the party’s over.
The host
Most of us enjoy hosting holiday parties for friends and family. However, with the decision to serve alcoholic beverages comes the responsibility to make certain our guests don’t leave the party so impaired that they are unable to drive safely.
· Serve a variety of food, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages.
· Keep an eye on your guests as you circulate during the party. If you observe someone take more than one or two alcoholic drinks or you see someone who shows signs of intoxication, be pro-active. Determine whether the person expects to drive himself home. If so, intervene and ensure that a sober driver takes him.
· Provide a list of phone numbers for local cab companies and post it for your guests.
· Take the keys away and call a cab. Or call a family member or friend to give your guest a sober ride. If you can’t take care of the situation on your own, ask his friends (or yours) to help.
To be continued….
Safety tips from: Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety
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