Holidays at TCU … each December the campus is adorned in garlands, wreaths, and purple and white ornaments.  As the semester comes to a close, many members of the Horned Frog community will celebrate the endings, and anticipated beginnings, of the year.  Unfortunately, holiday festivities can provide increased opportunities for impaired driving.

 

 

Each year, over half a million people are killed or injured in alcohol-involved motor vehicle crashes.  Therefore, the TCU Alcohol & Drug Education Center would like to let folks know that December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention month.  So, along with planning your holiday feast, please consider what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your friends from impaired drivers.

 

 

Following these tips can help you stay safe during the holiday season, and year-round:

•    Plan ahead – Always designate a non-drinking driver before any celebration begins.
•    Take the keys – It’s simple, if a friend has been drinking, they shouldn’t be driving.  Here are some hints on how to get the keys from a person before he or she tries to drive:
-    Be calm and avoid being confrontational.  Intoxicated persons are not always rational with their responses.
-    Make light of the situation and steer clear of making a scene.  No one likes to be embarrassed.
-    Take the keys away while the person is distracted.  They’ll probably think they lost or misplaced them and have to let someone else drive.
-    Above all don’t give in! Most people who try to stop a friend from driving are successful, and persistence pays off.
•    Be a helpful host – If you are hosting a party this holiday season, be sure have non-alcoholic beverages and food available for all guests.  Be prepared to offer guests a cab home or place to stay if they are too impaired to drive.
•    Keep an eye out for impaired drivers on the road.  All too often it is the innocent folk sharing the road that are hurt the most by the actions of an impaired driver.  Drive defensively, allowing plenty of space between you and the suspected car, and look for these signs:
-    Unreasonably fast/slow speeds or inconsistency in speeds
-    Frequent lane changes, swerving when passing, or steering with jerky movements
-    Driving too close to curbs/shoulders, or straddling the center line
-    Ignoring traffic signals and signs, sitting at stop signs for long periods of time
-    Driving with the windows down in cold weather, or the head partly or completely out the window
* If you are concerned about a driver, do not confront him or her!  Instead, get the license plate number and description of the vehicle and call 911 or local authorities/state patrol to report your concern.*

 

 

The holidays should be about gathering together with friends and family to celebrate the joys of the season.  Take steps to ensure drivers can enjoy a safe and festive holiday without placing their own lives and the lives of others on the road at risk.