How can I avoid Drinking and Driving?

It can be very easy to avoid Drinking and Driving. There are many solutions to avoid it. There can be the difference between having an enjoyable sober free night or ending it in a dangerous accident.

1. Arrange for someone to be the designated driver

If you’re planning a night out where you know there will be alcohol, look at planning ahead and designate a driver for that evening. This could be a friend who made the choice not to drink that night, or even asking for a ride from your parents or work colleague at the end of the night. If you are with a group of friends that you go out with regularly, an option is to rotate turns to be a designated driver. This means that you will always have at least one person suitable to drive every time you go out.

2. Use Public Transportation

If you’re planning a night out where you know there will be alcohol, look at planning ahead and designate a driver for that evening. This could be a friend who made the choice not to drink that night, or even asking for a ride from your parents or work colleague at the end of the night. If you are with a group of friends that you go out with regularly, an option is to rotate turns to be a designated driver. This means that you will always have at least one person suitable to drive every time you go out.

Transit, buses and transit are great and often cheap. Ways of getting back home without having to drive. Make sure you know the timetable so that you don’t miss the last bus or train of the evening. Also, make sure you have cash and a local taxi number in hand if you decide to take a cab home instead. Remember if there are a few of you going to the same place, this will make the cab ride much cheeper if you split the bill. This being said, you will get home safely and without paying a fortune for your cab ride.

3. Stick to non-alcoholic

You might think that you can’t celebrate if you’re not drinking alcohol, but you know that you can have just as much fun without alcohol. There are many companies now producing soft-drinks that are just as delicious as your favourite alcoholic beverage, and will save you from that pesky handover the next morning. Try having a zero-alcoholic beer. This will make you feel like you’re joining in, without compromising your safety and others when you are driving home.

4. Alcohol-free nights out

While alcohol can make up a large part of your night-out, it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s easy to have fun and spend time with friends while you are sober. Try going for dinner, to a movie or even some interesting new group activity you haven’t tried. Yes, instead of going straight to the bar. This way, you’ll avoid the temptation of having a drink and you will probably have a great time.

5. Avoid peer pressure

Peer pressure is one of the largest driving factors that cause younger people to drink-drive. If someone challenges you at a party to have a drink, just explain to them your reason for staying sober. If they carry on, just ignore them. Even if you want to please your friends, just remember that they won’t be the ones dealing with the extreme consequences if you’re caught behind the wheel. Don’t let others determine your decisions. Just keep in mind, drink-driving is never a good idea, even if you believe you are sober enough to drive. Stay safe by avoiding taking the wheel while under the influence of alcoholic. A couple of drinks is not worth getting your licence or causing an accident.