How to Prevent Friends from Drinking and Driving.
“I’m fine.”
“I only had like two drinks.”
“I don’t even feel that drunk.”
People make all kinds of excuses to justify their decision to drive under the influence. That’s because people often underestimate the impact of alcohol on their physical and mental capabilities. Not only can alcohol impair your vision and coordination, it can affect your judgment too. So no matter how convincing an excuse may sound, it’s never worth considering.
The best way to prevent a friend from driving drunk is to plan ahead. Establish a designated driver prior to going out, or agree to stay overnight where the event is being hosted (if possible). Whatever your plan, try your best to follow through on it.
If plans change, your attitude toward safety shouldn’t. It’s vital to make smart choices that will keep you, your friends — and everyone else — safe. If you’re in a situation where a friend is trying to drive drunk, follow these 4 tips on how to stop them:
1. Take away the keys.
At the beginning of the night, request your friend’s keys. It’s important to do this early, as the drunker a friend gets, the less prone they may be to hand them over. If you’re unable to convince them to hand over their keys, get clever. Tell them you forgot something in their car or that you need to borrow their car for a quick errand. Once you have their keys, keep them for the rest of the night. And avoid mentioning the fact that you have them to prevent a confrontation.
2. Suggest alternate methods of travel.
Recommend calling a cab or requesting an Uber. You could even use public transportation, or walk if it’s close and safe enough. If possible, stay with them to ensure they get to their destination safely. No matter how much the fare costs, it’s always cheaper than the cost of getting a DUI or dealing with the impact of a serious car wreck.
3. Be non-confrontational.
Rather than lecturing someone, approach the situation from a softer angle. Calmly request them to hand over their keys or call a ride. Explain how you care about them, and that you don’t want them to hurt themselves or others. Avoid a heated altercation, as it could lead to impulsive behavior and a reckless decision.
4. Band together.
If your friend won’t listen to your concerns, enlist help from others. Find other sober people to help persuade your friend from making a regrettable choice. It’s harder to say “no” to a group of people than one person. Just remember that the person you’re talking to is impaired. So speak slower and explain things more fully than if you were speaking to a sober person.
Preventing a friend from driving drunk may be one of the most important decisions you ever make. It could save their life and yours. Follow these tips for a safer holiday season, and find more helpful tips at enduiok.com.