Why You Must Prevent A Friend From Drinking And Driving

Posted on: 29 August 2017

If you are often attending parties that serve alcohol, you might be worried about whether your friends will get home safely. Luckily, there is a role that you can play in this. By paying close attention to the actions of your friends, you can find out if they are intoxicated and take the appropriate actions for keeping them off the road.

Signs Of Drunkenness 

There are many physical signs of drunkenness, including:

  • Glassy eyes
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Strong alcohol odor
  • An impaired motor function
  • Lowered inhibitions
  • Speaking loudly or softly
  • Slurring speech
  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Mood swings

These are all signs that the individual may need to stop drinking and are definitely signs that it is not safe for that individual to drive. 

Stopping Drunkenness

The best way to encourage someone to quit drinking is to talk calmly to the individual like a friend. You could ask your friend to do you a favor by not drinking anymore. If he or she is not receptive, it is best to try to hide the alcohol and the car keys of your loved one. Even if he or she decides to leave in order to get more alcohol, at least you will not have to worry about a DUI. If alcohol is being served by someone else, ask that he or she stop serving alcohol to your friend. 

The Risks Of Drinking And Driving

Drinking and driving is very dangerous and it is important that you do everything possible to prevent this from happening. Drunk drivers often make very wide turns, may drive on the wrong side of the road, may be unable to see other vehicles or objects and end up striking them, may brake erratically, may not stop at traffic signals or signs promptly, may make illegal turns and may drive after dark with the headlights turned off, increasing the risk of an accident. This can lead to an accident that has a high likelihood of getting someone killed. 

Criminal penalties for a DUI can vary from state to state. Most individuals with a DUI spend some time in jail. Fines can be hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on whether there is a misdemeanor or felony conviction. It is also common for an individual with a DUI to receive a license suspension. Because of these reasons, it is important to prevent a friend from drinking and driving. After a DUI, it is important to hire a DUI attorney, such as from Pollack & Ball LLC.

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