The Importance of Avoiding Drinking and Driving

On any Friday or Saturday night across the nation, youof pocket fees even though you were not legally
can go out and see numerous examples of peopleintoxicated.  A small cab fee or an extra 10 minutes
that like to party and do not know their limitations.  Doadded to your trip to take public transportation are
you fall in to that category?  Overindulging in alcohol isalways going to be better for you in the long run
not horrible in and of itself, although it isn't very goodcompared to a DUI conviction.
for your health and generally results in a rough morningIf you go out without planning to drink, or planning to
the next day.  However, where people get in to thedrink very little, it is still important to have a plan for
most trouble is when they combine drinking andgetting home should you decide to have a few drinks
driving.  Every year an astronomical number ofwhile out.  Bring some extra cash that you set aside
people are killed in alcohol related car accidents - it isfor a cab fare or plan to spend the night at a friend's
simply not a good thing to do.house to avoid driving home.  The key is to make
The problem is that a number of people have a hardthese plans before you are intoxicated - chances are
time making that judgement while they're "in theyou will not make the best decision when your
moment."  It is often difficult to tell exactly how drunkjudgement is clouded by alcohol.  If you really do not
you are and people are arrested every night whotrust yourself to stick to the plan, leave your keys at
thought they were "fine" to drive home.  Alcoholhome or take a cab or bus to your location so that it is
impairs your judgement, which makes drivingliterally impossible for you to drive home.  In other
dangerous for you and other motorists.  However, awords, don't give yourself the option.
contributing factor to the high number of DUI arrestsDrinking and driving will eventually catch up to you and
and drunk driving accidents is that people's impairedresult in some serious consequences that go beyond
judgement negatively affects their ability to determinefines.  One study found that over one third of all
if they can/should be driving.  They might think theytraffic-related fatalities were caused by drunk drivers
can, but if they've been drinking, there is not way to tellmeaning that you could kill yourself or somebody
how accurate those thoughts are.  This is why it iselse.  DUI convictions are rough as well.  The fines
best to never drive after drinking.  are steep, your drivers license is usually suspended,
Another thing that a lot of people do not realize is thatyou could end up in jail, and a conviction might impact
you can still be arrested for driving while impaired evenyour ability to get a job or keep your current job. 
if you are under the "legal" drunk driving limit.  Again,Avoiding these penalties after an arrest is difficult and
this is why you should never drive after drinking - evenrequires you to hire a DUI lawyer, which will cost you
1 or 2 drinks.  Taking this risk may result in you havingmore money in addition to court fees.  So is the risk
to talk to police officers, hire a DUI lawyer, and pay outreally worth it?