The holiday season is a time filled with office parties, family gatherings and fancy dinners, which are often paired with alcohol. In the name of celebration, those who don’t normally drink may choose to imbibe, and those who don’t normally drink heavily may choose to overindulge. While this all happens in good fun, a common problem is that those who have been drinking are unable to safely drive home.
Drinking a driving is a problem on the roads all year long, but it is especially prevalent during the holiday season. In 2016, there were 10,497 deaths caused by alcohol-impaired driving. Of those, 781 deaths occurred in the month of December.
In Florida, it is breaking the law to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or more. The penalty for even your first offense can include heavy fines, driver’s license suspension and even jail time. The best way to avoid the consequences of drinking and driving is to set up an alternative ride home before you start drinking.
Possible alternatives include:
- Ridesharing with someone willing to be the designated sober driver.
- Calling a taxi service or an on-demand car service like Uber or Lyft.
- Renting a limo to bring you home in style. It’s the holiday season, right?
All of these options, including the limo, are less expensive than the fines associated with a DUI conviction. Unfortunately, drinking and driving is a common occurrence over the holiday season. However, with a little planning you can enjoy the alcohol served at your holiday celebrations, while avoiding the dangers associated with driving home drunk.
