Galveston County, TX

New Years Weekend is here! As we all go out to celebrate the fresh new start we would like to remind everyone to be safe on the roads. If you are planning on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver or a plan to get home. Drunk driving can be a lifechanging decision for you, your family, and fellow drivers. Drunk drivers put themselves and other drivers in severe risk of injury and death. 

The numbers do not lie.

- 28% of fatal car crashes are alcohol related.

- Drunk driving costs $130 billion annually.

- Fatal accidents increase 129% on New Years Day.

The ONLY way to sober up is time.

NEVER rely on any of the myths to sober up "faster". Alcohol will only clear your system through being metabolized over time. 

BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is a measure of alcohol exhaled from the lungs. BAC is a measurement that can discern the level of intoxication of a person. The chart above gives a good breakdown of the BAC a person would have if they drink a number of drinks in one hour. Everyone is different though, and some experience the effects of intoxication at lower BAC than others.

Even a 220 pound individual with one drink is a quarter of the way to the .08 BAC. The .08 level is not a hard rule either. You could face legal consequences for driving with a lower BAC depending on the circumstances and laws in your area. This could be as much as a $2,000 fine, a $3,000 fine at the state level, you could lose your license, and even spend some jail time.

How to arrive alive.

- Plan ahead: It all starts with a plan. Have a couple of methods you can get home without having to get behind the wheel after drinking. Tell these plans to others before going out.

- Designate a driver: Designate a person who will be the sober driver. Ensure this person knows.

- Phone a friend: Friends and family are a good trusted way to get home safe.

- Call a rideshare: Uber, Lyft, or a plain old cab is worth the cost.

-Ask the bartender for help: If all else fails they can call you a cab, rideshare, or tell you the public transportation options.

-Plan to stay over: Ask your host if it would be okay to stay the night, or find a hotel nearby.