Drinking and driving is a year-round 12-month problem but there is a peak at festivities this sees more than its fair share of drink-related problems on our roads. That is why there are police roadblocks in and around entertainment areas to catch drunk drivers in recent weeks.
So here are some tips designed to keep you safe during the festivities:
- If you are going to drive, don’t drink. And if you are going to drink, don’t drive. Resist the temptation to have “just one” to be social if you are the driver: you may be technically legal but your driving may well be affected;
- When it’s your turn not to drink, offer to be the designated driver and be prepared to take others home if you can, rather than let them drive;
- If you are going to drink, remember that you may not be entirely alcohol free the next day. Motorists making a conscious decision to leave the car at home before their big night out may think they have done the responsible thing. But if they have to drive to work first thing the next morning, the alcohol may not have “cleared the system” overnight. Allow at least 24 hours between the bottle and the throttle one night’s drunken sleep may not have done it; and
- Watch out for drunken pedestrians. It’s a hard enough to keep an eye on developing road hazards, without having to watch the pavement too. Be prepared for anything. Slow down so you have enough time to respond.
