National Impaired Driving Prevention Month: Keeping the Holidays Sober and Festive

• January 20, 2012
• DUI

It’s that time of year when holiday parties abound and fortified eggnog and other alcoholic beverages are prevalent at almost every gathering. In order to keep your holiday festive and safe, it is best to come up with a designated driver plan before attending a holiday celebration.

December has been designated as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The Montgomery Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) wishes to raise awareness about the consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

MADD provides these tips to help ensure road safety on local highways this holiday season:

• Designate a sober driver before celebrations begin;
• Plan safe parties, including providing non-alcoholic drink options to guests and not serving alcohol the last hour of the gathering;
• Never serve alcohol to those under the age of 21;
• If you’ve been drinking, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride with a driver who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Don’t let a driving accident steal your joy! Keep safe by following the above-listed tips and above all, have a safe, sober and happy Christmas and New Year.

Some Sobering Facts About Teen Drinking and How Parents Can Help

• Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.
• One in three eighth graders have tried alcohol.
• One in five teens binge-drink, but only one in 100 parents believe that their child binge-drinks.
• Seventy-four percent of kids, ages 8-17, said their parents are the leading influence on their decisions about drinking.
• Having regular family conversations about alcohol can reduce underage drinking and drunkenness by 30 to 60 percent.
• When parents and kids are better connected, kids are less likely to drink or use other drugs.

The personal injury attorneys at Wininger Law Firm would like to remind you that the month of December is one of the busiest on Alabama highways.  It is also one of the more dangerous times of the year, due to the large number of DUI and drug-related traffic collisions.

The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that 40% of traffic fatalities during the time period between Christmas and New Year’s Day involve drunk drivers.

If you or have been the victim of a drunk driver, call the Wininger Law Firm to discuss your injuries and to ask us questions about your case. Your initial consultation is confidential and is free of charge.