Labor Day is the perfect time to relax, unwind and spend some time catching up with friends and family. Unfortunately, many people choose to overdo the celebrating – especially when it comes to drinking alcohol.
Traffic accidents over Labor Day weekend increase by as much as 12 percent, according to data from the National Safety Council – and this is on top of already deplorable car crash statistics from the NHTSA, which show that an estimated 32,500 people died on the road in 2015.
The best way to avoid a drunk driving accident is not to drink and drive. That may seem obvious, but far too many people make exceptions on Labor Day weekend.
In New Mexico, it is illegal for a person aged 21 or older to drive if he or she has a blood-alcohol concentration of .08. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person with a BAC of .08 will experience one or more of the following effects:
- Reduced muscle coordination;
- Difficulty detecting danger;
- Impaired ability to control the vehicle’s speed and direction;
- And reduced capacity to process information.
If your friend or family member intends to drive drunk over the holiday, it is important that you intervene. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Take a non-confrontational approach;
- Offer an alternative way home;
- And ask a friend to help you intervene.
If your best efforts do not work, then Mothers Against Drunk Driving recommends that you contact the police. Getting a DWI is much better than dying or killing someone in a drunk driving wreck.
How to intervene if your friend insists on driving drunk:
- Take a Non-Confrontational Approach
Alcohol affects everyone differently, and some people become aggressive when they are drunk. As such, it is important that you are non-confrontational when trying to convince a friend not to drive under the influence. Otherwise, he or she may become defensive.
- Offer an Alternative Way Home
Find alternate means for your loved one to reach his or her destination. Look for a sober driver, use a ride-share app or contact a local taxi company.
- Rope in Some Friends
Explain to a few sober friends that you feel it is important that the drunk person does not drive. Support is often the most important factor in persuading an impaired person to hand over his or her keys, because it is harder to say no to three or four people who are trying to help than just one.
- If You Have to, Call the Police
This might seem like a dramatic step, but it could save your friend’s life or the lives of other road users.