Many people believe that all they need to do after an evening of drinking alcoholic libations is to drink a cup or two of black coffee and they’re good to drive. However, coffee doesn’t sober a person up. The only thing that reduces the affects of alcohol on a person’s coordination and judgement is time. Misconceptions such as these about the effects of alcohol on the human body are part of the reason why traffic fatalities are at an all-time high in our country.
Unfortunately, the holiday season is responsible for a sharp increase in traffic fatalities during the month of December. According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 40 percent of traffic fatalities during the holidays are directly related to the use of alcohol and recreational drugs. National drunk driving stats also show that alcohol related accidents increase as much as 12 percent during the month of December.
Even if you are always careful to arrange for a designated driver on evenings that you plan on indulging in alcohol or drug use at holiday events, you should still take steps to protect yourself from the damage that intoxicated drivers can cause. Keeping your insurance policy intact is advised so that you are not at risk of incurring substantial financial losses should you become the victim of a drunk driver who is not carrying adequate coverage.
Another way that you can protect yourself from those who are driving under the influence is to avoid certain traffic conditions whenever possible. Not driving during the evening hours, particularly during weekend nights when much of the seasonal holiday revelry takes place, will also reduce your chances of becoming the victim of an impaired driver. If you do choose to attend gatherings where the holiday cheer will be freely flowing, renting a limo or a professional driver is a classy way to stay safe. Because limos are large, well-built vehicles, your chances of surviving even a direct hit from a drunk driver are significant.
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