Be Lucky on St. Patrick’s Day with a Designated Driver

We have some good news. Increased education, especially of teen drivers, and better enforcement of DUI (Driving Under the Influence) laws, have decreased alcohol related traffic fatalities. However, each time we have a holiday that is associated with drinking, we experience a very predictable increase in accidents and fatalities. This is so predictable that many state highway and public safety departments release projections, and these predictions prove accurate. This St. Patrick’s Day, please enjoy the Luck of The Irish, and do not allow yourself to become a statistic!

Young People Are Particularly Vulnerable

Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 24? And alcohol is a major contributor to these accidents. That is why student driver’s education spends so much time emphasizing the fact that alcohol and driving make a deadly mix.

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much To Drive?

If a 160 pound person drank 2 beers an hour, that would give them a blood alcohol limit of .04, which is still well below the legal limit. Still, according to statistics, that person is still 1.4 times more likely to have an accident than if they had abstained.

Add 2 more beers, and that 160 pound person may still be slightly under the legal limit, but would be 11 times more likely to have an accident than a sober person.

And if a 160 pound person finishes off a six pack of beer within an hour, their blood alcohol level would certainly violate the DUI laws, and would make them almost fifty times more likely to have an accident!

You Need A Designated Driver or Taxi If You Plan To Drink

How much does a taxi cost, anyway? How inconvenient would it be to call a friend to pick you up? A taxi probably costs less than the drinks you plan to have, and it will certainly be a lot cheaper than the costs associated with having an accident while under the influence. And your non-drinking friend will probably be happy to have an opportunity to give you a ride, rather than have you risk having an accident, and possibly getting injured or killed. Besides, even if nobody gets hurt, when the police come and charge you with DUI, you will have a serious charge on your record that can follow you around for many years.

Before you go out the St. Patrick’s Day, make transportation plans. If you have not made these plans, most bars will have the number of a good taxi service on hand. These days, places that serve alcohol can be held liable for the actions of their patrons, and they will be prepared to help you enjoy your holiday in a responsible manner.

– Posted in:

Car

– Tags:

car insurance, st patrick's day

– Bookmark:

Digg del.icio.us Reddit StumbleUpon