Don’t start the New Year with a DUI
The holidays are a time when families come together – and when impaired drivers hit the road. Tragically, countless drivers and passengers lose their lives every year between Christmas and New Year’s. From 2012 to 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed an average of 300 fatalities to drunk driving. If you anticipate drinking this season, it is important to have a plan in place so that you and your loved ones get home safely and avoid a DUI.
What can I do to stay safe?
Do not wait until you have started drinking to figure out how you will get home. Before you head out for celebrations, you should already have a plan in place. Consider the following tips to prevent DUI over the holidays:
- Select a sober designated driver
- Request an Uber or Lyft
- Limit the amount of beverages you consume
- Drink eight ounces of water with every drink
- Eat while you consume alcohol
- Stay with a family member or friend
Of course, the only sure way to avoid a DUI charge this holiday season is to refrain from using substances or consuming alcohol if you plan on driving.
How much is too much to drink?
A variety of factors influences when you will be too impaired to drive. Your weight, amount of food you have consumed, the number of drinks, how fast you drank and your gender are all factors that play a role in your blood alcohol concentration (BAC.)
In Tennessee, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08 percent. However, without a breath test, most drivers do not know how to tell when they have reached that limit. We can all do our part to prevent impaired drivers from hitting the roads, including our loved ones. If your family member or friend plans on driving home after drinking, offering to call a cab or take them home could save their life.