Are you someone who likes going out with friends and enjoys having a few drinks? If so, you aren’t alone as millions of people across the U.S. enjoy doing the same thing. While there is nothing wrong with going out and having some cocktails or a few glasses of wine, there is when you are the one that is going to be driving yourself and/or others home. With more than 10,000 lives claimed in drunk driving wrecks each year, drivers are taking matters into their own hands when they aren’t exactly capable of making such important decisions [Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration].
That is why drivers are encouraged to take advantage of the various companies out there including Uber and Lyft to get them home if they plan on having an alcoholic drink. Aside from relying on a company, many also turn to a friend or family member who is willing to be their designated driver. But, when assigning someone with this role, it is important to take into account how reliable they are. The fact is, just because someone agrees to drive you home doesn’t mean they are able to take on the task. In fact, according to Smithsonian.com, “people don’t seem to get what ‘designated driver’ means.”
According to a study, “40 percent of designated drivers drink, and almost 20 percent do so the point that their own ability to drive may be impaired.” The author of the study surveyed 165 people who were assigned the role of being a designated driver who were exiting bars in the state of Florida and asked them if they had anything to drink. The drivers then submitted to a breathalyzer test to see what their breath alcohol concentration was. Turns out, 18% of the participants had levels of .05 or more, which is not far from the legal limit of .08.
While you may not be too concerned about a driver whose alcohol concentration levels are lower than the legal limit, the truth is, these drivers are sometimes at-fault for causing a crash. When a designated driver fails to abstain from drinking and then is responsible for driving home, they are putting many lives at risk, including their own. Therefore, if you plan on choosing someone to be your designated driver, be sure they are prepared to commit to the job, and by that, we mean they aren’t going to drink anything.
In the event you were recently involved in a crash in Tennessee that was caused by a drunk driver you will want to retain a Nashville, TN car wreck lawyer who can help you hold the reckless driver accountable for their wrong choice to drink and drive. These types of wrecks tend to be rather serious and often leave victims suffering for long periods of time. If you wish to recover compensation for the pain and suffering you or a loved one has had to endure as a result of this incident, contact the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr. today at 615-251-0005 to schedule an appointment today.
You can also visit or call the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr. at:
First-Third Center
424 Church Street, Ste. 2000
Nashville, TN 37219
800-427-8960
