Drunk driving is one of the biggest errors in judgment that someone can make. While people generally never plan to drive while under the influence of alcohol, poor planning often results in a false belief that the person will be able to get themselves home after drinking. Many people in this situation fail to consider that there are a lot of other ways that they can get home safely without getting behind the wheel of a car. For many people who drive drunk, the choice to do so would never be made when they were sober.
Luckily, there are things that can be done while sober to help avoid making a potentially life-altering and dangerous decision. Here are 3 tips to avoid driving while intoxicated.
1. Stay over someone else’s place.
Rather than worry about how you are going to get home after drinking, you can plan on not having to go home at all. Whether you make plans to stay at the house where you were drinking, go home with someone else who has not been drinking, or stay at a hotel within walking distance of the bar, you won’t have to even think twice about driving.
2. Give a friend your keys.
If you don’t know how much you plan on drinking but are concerned that it could be too much to drive, it’s always good to get the opinion of someone whom you trust. You can give your keys to a friend, party host, or bartender, so that when you decide it’s time to go home, they can decide whether you need an alternate way of getting there safely.
3. Have a designated driver
Lastly, one of the most common options for avoiding getting behind the wheel while drunk is to have a designated driver. A designated driver is someone whom you will agree upon ahead of time, who will not be drinking, and can therefore be responsible for driving you home safely. This could be someone who can’t drink for medical reasons or who doesn’t care to drink – or this could simply be someone different in your group each time, who takes turns not drinking each time you go out.
You should always plan ahead whenever alcohol may be involved. However, if you fail to do so and have made the unfortunate decision to drive while intoxicated and are now charged with a DUI, it’s important that you seek a knowledgeable and experienced North Carolina criminal defense attorney who can help.
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A criminal conviction in North Carolina can have a very long-lasting impact on your life. Not only can it affect your ability to obtain or keep certain jobs, but also it can have a permanent impact on your reputation.
At Hancock Law Firm, PLLC, we fully understand what is at stake and will do everything that we can to obtain the best possible outcome for you. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!