Keep The Drinking Off The Road This Halloween

Florida Highway Patrol has made a resolution to crack down on drinking and driving from now into November. They hope to insure by doing so that there will be a safer Halloween for everyone. This effort is part of their Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over program they are following to try to reduce the number of drivers that are driving while intoxicated and automobile accidents caused by them.
Driving while intoxicated isn’t a good idea. It isn’t safe for you or anyone you may encounter while you are on the roadways. You can avoid this problem entirely with a bit of forethought and planning. If you plan to drink on Halloween then plan what you will do to get home before the festivities begin. After you begin drinking your ability to think clearly will be impaired and you will lose the ability to make a clearheaded decision. Will you stay at a friend’s house if that is where you are? This is a good option to choose. If you are the one hosting the event or party perhaps you could plan to have your guests spend the night to prevent them from getting out on the road after drinking.

If you plan on going home make sure you have a designated driver ahead of time who will not be drinking at all that day. You might choose to call a friend or family member to come get you when you are ready to leave the location you have been drinking at. Calling a taxi is another option you can use to get home safely. Whatever option you choose you can feel good knowing that you have done the safe thing for both yourself and anyone you might have met on the road. The best option would be to choose not to drink at all rather than to drink and drive.

Once you make the decision to drink and drive you are facing severe consequences if you get caught which is very likely since Florida Highway Patrol has stepped up their efforts to stop impaired driving. This doesn’t include the fact that if someone is injured due to your negligent and selfish decision that you will have to live with that fact for the rest of your life.

If you are out driving on Halloween or any other time and notice a driver that seems to have an impaired ability to drive then the responsible thing to do is report them for their safety and yours. You can call *347 from your cell phone to reach Florida Highway Patrol and report a driver. If possible you should try to have the driver’s license plate number and the exact location of where you are when you call your report in. Every call you make can help to save lives.

Many lives could be saved by eliminating drinking and driving. Almost everyone knows someone who has been a victim of drinking and driving. We can help to lower these sad statistics if we commit to doing our part by not participating in drinking and driving.