Designated drivers have saved countless lives and spared many others from suffering injury due to drunk driving. At least 9 out of 10 Americans who attend social events where alcohol is served would like to see designated drivers used. The proportion of people using or being a designated driver has increased dramatically over time. Each year, more than 73,000,000 Americans either serve as a designated driver or are driven home by one.
A designated driver is simply a person who agrees to completely abstain from alcohol and be responsible for driving others home. This means ZERO alcohol and 100% sober – and does NOT mean the least drunk of the group. Others with the designated driver are free to drink or not as they choose. Many establishments provide free non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers.
A designated driver helps friends and family:
- avoid embarrassment
- keep their drivers licenses
- avoid fines
- stay out of jail
- prevent senseless injury and death
Advantages to the designated driver concept:
- The non-drinker has a legitimate and respected role at a social function where alcohol is served. There is no stigma to abstaining because the designated driver is considered an important member of the group. Being a designated driver can also help legitimize a personal choice not to drink.
- The designated driver approach prevents driving under any level of impairment because that person consumes no alcohol. It doesn't require a driver or passenger to determine if a person is too impaired to drive.
- The server or host can offer a positive alternative to drunk driving by encouraging a group to designate a driver.
- The designated driver concept is easy to understand, simple to implement, costs nothing, and is effective.
- Truly, designated drivers are the “life” of the party.
Tips for designated drivers:
- Plan ahead whenever you are going to socialize with alcoholic beverages.
- Decide ahead of time who will not drink any alcohol before or during the party or event.
- Take turns being the designated driver. Look after your friends and family and they can look after you.
- Larger groups should have more than one designated driver.
In addition to being or using a designated driver, you can save lives by taking car keys from intoxicated people to prevent them from driving under the influence. Here are some helpful hints on how to get the keys from a drunk person who is about to drive:
- Be calm. Joke about it. Make light of it.
- Make it clear that you're doing the drunk person a favor.
- Locate their keys while they're preoccupied and take them away. They will probably think they've lost them and will be forced to accept another mode of transportation.
- If it is a close friend, use a soft, calm approach. Suggest to them privately that they've had too much to drink and it would be better if someone else drove them home, took a cab, or used some other form of transportation.
- If it's a good friend, spouse, or loved one, tell them that if they insist on driving, you are not going with them. Tell them that you will ride with someone else, take public transportation, or walk.
- If it's someone you don't know well, speak to their friends and have them make an attempt to persuade them to hand over the keys.
- If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational.
You can make a difference! Although thousands of lives are saved each year by both designated drivers and those who don't let friends or others drive drunk, many more are needlessly lost. Each such death is a tragedy affecting many others who are left suffering and grieving. Help your friends and family get home safely… be the 100% sober designated driver.
The Peer Educators from the Office of Health and Wellness Education proudly sponsor Cabrini's Designated Driver campaign. Stop by the Health Hut between September 20 – October 1 to sign a pledge to always use a 100% sober designated driver. Those who sign an individual pledge will receive various support items and free giveaways.
For more information, visit www.cabrini.edu/wellness or contact the Office of Health and Wellness Education at wellness@cabrini.edu.
This Week in Wellness is sponsored by the Offices of Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Fitness Center, and Health and Wellness Education.