According to statistics, someone dies in a car crash every 30 minutes due to drunk driving. In recent years, a total average of 13,000 people have died due to drunk driving-related auto accidents on an annual basis. New Year’s Eve typically sees the highest increase in these kinds of fatalities, and according to Wheels, the official blog of the New York Times, around half of the fatal crashes on New Year’s Eve end up being related to drunk driving and take place after midnight.
Thankfully, three are many different ways in which you can protect both yourself and your friends in the event that you decide to drive somewhere during this holiday.
Here are three of the most useful tips to avoid drunk driving on New Year’s Eve.
*First and foremost, perhaps one of the most useful tips to avoid drunk driving on New Year’s Eve is to inquire about plans regarding a designated driver. Even though it may sound too intrusive, the fact is that making sure your guests select a designated driver is something that could help you decide whether you need to confiscate keys or let someone sleep on your couch. Always let them know that you’re asking them simply for safety, which will result in a majority of people ending up telling you which plans they have made.
*Another of the most useful tips to avoid drunk driving on New Year’s Eve is to consider offering alternative forms of transportation. For instance, ridesharing services such as Lyft and Uber often offer services that allow hosts to “gift” rides to friends who are too intoxicated to drive themselves homes. Think about offering this kind of option to a friend of yours who may not be able to drive safely.
*One other useful tip to avoid drunk driving on New Year’s Eve is to simply confiscate keys at the door. For instance, when your guests arrive, ask them to surrender their keys by either handing them to you or placing them into a locked room where coats and purses will be located. This will help to ensure that no one will be able to leave your home in a condition that they will not be able to drive.