Having a designated driver for holiday parties is one of the most responsible things you can do for yourself and others. Designated drivers are the people that stay sober in order to guarantee the safety of friends and family under the influence of alcohol. They volunteer not to drink alcohol on a social occasion so that they can safely drive other people who have been drinking. There are so many reasons why designating a sober driver is a good idea. Besides the obvious “It’s just the right thing to do” answer, here are a few other reasons why a designated driver is a good idea.
- DUIs are horrible things to have on your record
- You’re setting a good example for others
- Losing your license is extremely inconvenient
- Losing your auto insurance is a costly nightmare
- The expense of a DUI could pay for a trip to Aruba
Most people these days know the importance of a designated driver. But partygoers beware. , There are some people who agree to be a designated driver and then drink anyway. Your designated sober driver may not always be alcohol-free. A recent study, conducted in a Florida college town, found that two out of five designated drivers drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Of these drivers, half had a blood alcohol content of .05 percent – enough to affect driving ability while still being under the legal limit.
Most people know what a designated driver is, so let’s talk about what a designated driver is NOT. A designated driver is NOT:
- The “least drunk”
- Someone who has had even one alcoholic drink
- The intoxicated person able to pass all the sobriety tests better than the rest of his intoxicated friends
- The drunk person able to hop on one foot the longest
The person accepting the role of designated driver takes on a huge responsibility. Choose the designated driver before the party starts instead of halfway through. To avoid the possibility of devastating accidents and needing the services of DWI/DUI defense lawyers, every group should have a designated driver who takes that role seriously.
