In Canada, thousands of people are killed and tens of thousands are injured in impaired driving collisions each year. According to MADD Canada, 4 Canadians are killed and 175 are injured every day by drunk drivers. Driving drunk is never worth the risk to others or yourself, especially since alternative methods of transportation, such as Ottawa taxies, are so readily available.
Whether it will be by bus, taxi or a designated driver, planning your transportation to and from a celebration becomes an integral aspect during the holiday season. Holidays are an especially dangerous time of year for drunk driving deaths and injuries, for several reasons:
♦There are more parties and celebrations happening during the holidays, giving people more opportunities to drink alcohol
♦ Many people are dealing with increased stress around the holidays, and may feel more inclined to unwind with a drink.
♦ Some holiday drinkers don’t drink often, so they have a lower tolerance for alcohol. These types of drinkers can easily underestimate their impairment level, and sometimes drive after drinking when they really should call a taxi.
Celebrations and drinking are inevitable during the holiday season, but that doesn’t mean that drunk driving has to be. Help keep our roads safe this holiday season by planning ahead for your own festivities and by keeping drunk drivers from behind the wheel with the following tips:
♦ If you know you will be drinking at a party, please leave your car at home. Take a bus or a taxi to the party, assign a designated driver, or plan to stay the night. Once the party is over, Ottawa taxies are only a phone call away, and a taxi will safely bring you home after a night of celebration.
♦ To keep yourself and others safe, do not ever accept a ride from a driver who has been drinking. Instead, call Ottawa taxies for both you and the driver in question.
♦ If you are hosting a party, make sure you have a non-alcoholic drinks available for those who are driving or don’t wish to drink. Know who at the party is driving, and be sure to discreetly monitor their alcohol intake throughout the evening. Consider purchasing a few taxi chits ahead of time, keep the numbers of Ottawa taxies handy and also be prepared to have intoxicated guests sleep over.
♦ If you are ever on the road and encounter a driver you believe to be impaired, call 911 immediately.
What other ways have you used to get home safely? Share them with us in the comments below.
