Designating Drivers and Other Ways to Prevent Drunk Driving Accidents

Warmer weather is here and more people are taking to the road. That fact alone increases the risk for car accidents.

Warmer weather also means teenagers who have gotten their driver's licenses are on the road, practicing their driving. Lack of experience increases accident risks for teen drivers and so does the presence of more bicycles, pedestrians and traffic in general.

What About Underage Drinking and Driving?

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) reports the following statistics about underage drinking, and the facts are rather alarming:

• Teens riding with an underage drinking driver are involved in 25% of car crashes
• Out of the 14 million people who are dependent on alcohol, 95% of them began drinking before they reached 21
• Teenagers who drink when young are seven times more at risk of being involved in an alcohol-related crash.
• Over 40% of all 10^th graders drink alcohol

However, teenagers are not the age group that has the highest rate of drunk drivers. Drivers between the ages of 26 and 29 have the highest rate of drunk driving incidents (20.7 percent).

What Are Some Practical Ways to Avoid Drunk Driving?

Ways to avoid riding with a drunk driver include:

• Assign a designated driver who is not drinking
• Arrange other transportation (Uber, Lyft or taxi)
• Take your friends keys away from then if they have been drinking
• Offer your guests at parties other alternatives to alcohol (water, soda, etc.)
• Serve food along with alcoholic beverages
• Do not serve alcohol to minors
• Drive defensively and avoid indicators of drunk drivers (weaving or drifting, wide turns, extremely slow speeds, etc.)

Seek Legal Help if Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident

If you are seriously injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. You would have the right to recover damages for pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, future lost income and other related damages.