by Cynthia Springsteen

Created on: December 05, 2009

This is an extremely important topic and not one to take lightly, especially since we are in the holiday season there are more drunk drivers on our roads than other times of the year. Sometimes, when people drink they seem to lose their sense of right and wrong and will attempt to do things they shouldn't especially by getting behind the wheel of a car. So what can you as a friend do to prevent someone from driving drunk?

The first thing you should do if at all possible is to get their car keys away from them. At a party designate a key patrol person, have all car keys put in a bowl at the beginning of the party or event and the person that isn't drinking will give out the car keys at the end of the event to only people who have not been drinking. If everyone agrees to this in the beginning you will be less likely to run into any trouble when someone tries to leave that has been drinking. They will already know the rules and probably not fight you on this.

Always set up designated drivers. There are always going to be people for one reason or another who are not going to drink. Setting up car pools with a group is an excellent option and share in the gas expenses. Everyone will know that they will get home safely know matter what. Each week or outing where there will be drinking set up a new driver so that this does not always fall on the same person.

When you're with your group of friends discuss these issues, things go easier when everyone is sober. There isn't anyone who wants to die or get in an accident and if they are truly your friends all of them should want to work out a plan to make sure everyone is safe. If it is an unexpected event that could not be planned ahead find a sober person to drive or if all else fails call home. As mad as you think your parents/family may be that you can't drive because you are drunk, the happier and more responsible they will see that you are when you make this choice. No one wants to see something bad happen and would rather be woken up and pick you up than let you drive home drunk.

Read the following to all your friends:

The sound so loud it hurts, glass shattering, metal bending, screaming so loud, is that me?

I am in here I matter

Sirens, more screaming, Jaws of Life, so loud, make it stop.

I am in here I matter

I am okay, I didn't drink that much, I can drive, I am fine.

I am in here I matter

I am out, don't cry, it was a choice I could handle, I could drive, I could drink.

I am in here I matter

I am dead, I am young, I am in here, I did matter.

Don't make this choice, you matter, choose life, and choose not drinking and driving.

No matter what the cost, don't let a friend or anyone you know get behind the wheel of a car drunk. Nothing is worth death, or injury. If they are not your friend anymore because you stood up to them then they weren't your friend to begin with. If someone is giving you a hard time get others who still have their senses to help you stand up to this person. Bottom line, life is too short, everyone likes to have a good time, but no one wants to die or be responsible for taking someone else's life. Choose to live, choose to drive safely and no matter what never drive drunk, even one drink is too much.

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