AAA Encourages Sober Driving This Holiday Season

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- It’s a time of celebration this time of the year. While you are partying and enjoying time off keep in mind that drunk driving resulted in 21 deaths in Ohio in December last year.

Impaired driving not only affects you but everyone around you. AAA Spokeswoman Kimberly Schwind offers some tips to ensure a safe and sound holiday.

“There is several things you can do” said Schwind, “First of all plan ahead. Make sure that you’re designating a sober driver, getting a taxi cab ahead of time, or even planning to stay over night where you are going to be partying. The second thing you can do is if your hosting a party, make sure that your are serving nonalcoholic beverages for your guest. Keep in mind Ohio has host liability laws. Where if your hosting a party and your guest are drinking, and they end up causing an injury or death on the road ways you can be liable.”

And of course, if you do decide to take in alcohol, make sure you arrange to have a safe trip back home.

“The best way to prevent drunk driving is to plan ahead,” Schwind said. “So know before you go out, that there is going to be a designated driver, that you’re going to call a taxi, or that you’re going to stay where you’re celebrating. The best way is to have a plan and then you won’t end up in a situation where you had too much to drink and you don’t have a way home.”

To take the pledge to drive drug and alcohol free, you can visit PreventDUIAAA.com.