Surviving St. Patrick's Day on the road

Everybody knows that drunk drivers kill thousands of people every year. The full tally is staggering; the federal government's latest numbers state that more than 17,000 alcohol-related traffic deaths occurred in 2006. The worse news is that fatalities have reached a plateau. The anti-drunk-driving measures have lost effectiveness, as evidenced by the fact that death rates have not improved for several years. Now we approach St. Patrick's Day, one of those annual celebrations where heavy drinking and a general spirit of bonhomie are encouraged by long tradition. What to do? Be aware and be prepared.

Eight survival tips

1. Stay off the road. If you really want to avoid a traffic accident, or worse, simply don't be in traffic. This is especially true at night, when most alcohol-related fatalities take place. So stay home. If you're gonna party anyway, have the party at your house, make it a sleep-over for your friends' sake, or plan to stay over if you go to a friend's house for planned overindulgence. Be sure to arrive at your evening destination during daylight hours.
2. Use a designated driver. If you have to party at night, arrange for a designated, sober driver. It's best if the designated driver is selected before the party, and, of course, is a safe and reliable driver to begin with. When all else fails, take a taxi home.
3. Be a designated driver. Stay straight, save lives. It's that simple.
4. Know your limit. Will drinking two beers in one hour impair your driving? It could if you weigh 130 lbs. or less. Maybe not if you weigh 160 lbs. or more. Intoxication is legally measured by blood-alcohol content, or BAC. Any individual may process (metabolize) alcohol faster or slower than average. On the whole, alcohol Impairment is present in the average adult when the BAC reaches .05 percent. The legal limit, meaning the point at which you will be arrested for drunk driving, is .08 in most places. That's when the ability to accurately steer, brake, and judge distances is impaired for the average person. (See a handy BAC calculator.)
5. Ride in a safe car. Some crashes are unavoidable, no matter what time of the year it is. If a driver--drunk or otherwise--swoops into your path, you want to be in a crash-worthy vehicle. In general, we recommend people purchase vehicles that have performed well in both crash tests and our own dynamic evaluations. Understanding no one will buy a car for just one night on the town, consider taking a larger, more modern vehicle over an older model with fewer safety features at this time of greater road risk. (If you want a sobering reality check, see our safety ratings, as well as crash test videos.)
6. Wear seat belts. Wearing your safety belt is the single best insurance against injury or fatality in any kind of crash.
7. Ride in the back seat. Sometimes you can't choose the vehicle you ride in or who drives it. But usually you can choose where to sit. In most crashes, the rear seat is a better place to be than the front. Be sure to have the head rest properly elevated and wear a seat belt.
8. Watch out for the other guy. If you see someone on the road who appears to be under the influence, don't take chances.  Get the plate number and call 911.  You may be saving someone's life.

Sober reminder: Don't live to regret
Party time can end pretty suddenly when a drunk driver kills or maims himself, passengers and/or people in other cars or pedestrians. The pronoun "he" is used advisedly: In more than 80 percent of alcohol-related deaths, the drunk driver was a man. Alcohol-related traffic deaths aren't limited to drivers, though. More than 1,500 tipsy pedestrians get killed on the road every year, too. If still in doubt, see Tip 1, above.

Be safe and enjoy the holiday!

—Gordon Hard

Comments

[Cale]

Gordon, you wrote, "The anti-drunk-driving measures have lost effectiveness,..." I live in the State of Washington were sobriety checkpoints have been deemed unconstitutional since 1988. Governor Gregoire recently called for the Legislature to authorize the police to set up sobriety spot checks.

This effort is strongly opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State who state that it would interfere the right of law-abiding people to travel.

Where I live this isn't a "loss of effectiveness" issue, it's law enforcement without teeth.

I preach personal responsibility to others, as you have in your blog. I firmly believe that a reduction in loss of life due to drunk driving (said to be 36% of all fatal traffic accidents in my state)lies with the individual not the lawmakers.

Folks, stay home this coming Monday and encourage your friends to celebrate in a way that helps ensure that everyone gets to enjoy St. Patrick's Day again next year.

Cale

[zoe]

Great advice; you provide some interesting tips not found on your typical "don't drink and drive" lists.

I'd like to add to "#5 Ride in a safe car" - a safe car also means one where there are enough seatbelts for everyone in the car. One designated driver for 10 people just won't do.

on that note, I hope you have a great st patty's day!

z

[Eddie]

We need to improve public transportation. I live in San Diego where its ok to drive 90 mph on the freeway but the cops will crack your skull for drunk driving. San Diego is a lot like LA, very spread out and awful public transportation. To get a cab ride from downtown (where the bars are) to one of the suburbs or surrounding areas cost at least $45! Thats insane. If lawmakers really wanted to reduce drunk driving, they would improve bus service, even if it was just for one day! Make the busses run ALL NIGHT on holidays such as this one and you could even make it...FREE! Drunk driving problem solved. Then if someone is caught drinking and driving they can be SHOT IN THE HEAD on the spot because there would really be no excuses. The answer is not "Stay indoors" lock your kids up, ect... All that does is make people fear drinking, and demonizes people who do it. %99 of people who drink will NOT drive home on St. Pats day and that should be recognized as well. Lawmakers don't make any money off of improved public transit, however they do profit from lots and lots of DUI tickets and impounded cars, they do benefit by making everyone so scared of drinking holidays that you all cower in your houses during a cultural celebration and are more likely to not be hung over at work the next day. If the state really cared about people lives they would make transpiration more effective, cars are stupid. They even hand out DUI's now to kids ON BIKES, often not even riding on the street but on the sidewalks. DUI's are just a way to make money.

[sony]

yes its a fact.Firstly the car or anyother vehicle should be in good condition.it should observe the following rules.
1)Stay off the road
2)Use a designated driver
3)Know your limit.
4)Wear seat belts.
5)Ride in the back seat.
6)Watch out for the other guy