The Risks of DUI – Drive Safely This Holiday Season

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Risks of DUI – Drive Safely This Holiday Season

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

For many people, the holidays are a time to gather with friends, family, and loved ones, and to eat, drink, and be merry. Sadly, every year, too many people take part in the “drink and be merry” festivities, then get behind the wheel and try to drive home.  And unfortunately, plenty of innocent people are affected by these bad choices. It’s easy to think that you’re okay to drive if you’ve only had a few drinks, but the reality is that any alcohol can impair your driving, and when coupled with potentially bad weather, slippery roads, and more traffic than normal, that risk of an accident can be even higher.  It’s important to continue practicing safe driving techniques, even when you’re party-hopping and spreading holiday cheer.

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaigns

Many states and cities are instituting “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns that emphasize the importance of driving safe and sober.  DUI checkpoints aim to nab offenders in the act, wherein all cars traveling through a specific point will have to stop and be evaluated by police.  Many municipalities will announce the location of these checkpoints, but the takeaway should be to abstain from drinking and driving, rather than choose a different route.

Safe Driving Tips

You may feel pressured to imbibe while you’re celebrating this season, but it’s important to keep a level head and stay focused on safety. Remember that even though you may be a safe driver, unfortunately not everyone follows the rules—it’s better to be fully prepared and sober in case someone else is not—you don’t want your reaction time to be slowed down at all in case you need to act quickly on the road.

Consequences of DUI

Sadly, there are many consequences of DUI that reach past simple legal trouble. There’s no way of predicting what will happen when you get behind the wheel after drinking, either, so you can’t simply hope that nothing bad will happen—in fact, you should typically assume that the worst will happen. It’s best not to roll the dice with something as serious as driving under the influence. You could cause a collision and potentially kill other drivers or passengers, either in your own car or someone else’s. It is simply not worth the risk. If you want to drink this holiday season, plan ahead and arrange either for a designated driver or an alternative way home.

 

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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